IntroductionMetabolic engineering of anthocyanin synthesis is an active research area for pigment breeding and remains a research hotspot involving AtPAP1 and ZmLc transcription factors.Caladium bicoloris a desirable anthocyanin metabolic engineering receptor, with its abundant leaf color and stable genetic transformation system.MethodsWe transformedC. bicolorwithAtPAP1andZmLcand successfully obtained transgenic plants. We then used a combination of metabolome, transcriptome, WGCNA and PPI co-expression analyses to identify differentially expressed anthocyanin components and transcripts between wild-type and transgenic lines.ResultsCyanidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and peonidin-3-O-rutinoside are the main components of anthocyanins in the leaves and petioles ofC. bicolor. Exogenous introduction ofAtPAP1andZmLcresulted in significant changes in pelargonidins, particularly pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside inC. bicolor. Furthermore, 5 MYB-TFs, 9 structural genes, and 5 transporters were found to be closely associated with anthocyanin synthesis and transport inC. bicolor.DiscussionIn this study, a network regulatory model of AtPAP1 and ZmLc in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis and transport inC. bicolorwas proposed, which provides insights into the color formation mechanisms ofC. bicolor, and lays a foundation for the precise regulation of anthocyanin metabolism and biosynthesis for economic plant pigment breeding.