Anatomical and biochemical trait network underlying genetic variations in tomato fruit texture

Firmness is an indicator of fruit freshness and a main component of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit texture. In this work, the genetic variability in fruit firmness and stiffness was analyzed in pre- and postharvest periods and underlying anatomical and biochemical traits were identified. Three tomato contrasted parental lines and six derived quantitative trait loci (QTL)-NILs harboring texture QTL on chromosome 4 (QTL4) and 9 (QTL9) were analyzed; the seasonal variability was assessed on two distant trusses. Firmness and stiffness were measured by compression and puncture tests at harvest and after 7-day storage at 20 °C. QTL4 poorly influenced the textural variables, on the contrary to QTL9 which increased firmness measured by puncture test and had similar effects in the two genetic backgrounds. According to this test, firmness increased along the season, but ranks among genotypes and QTL effects were hardly affected. Only some of the QTL effects were still significant after storage and firmness losses were not predicted by firmness at harvest. Fruit firmness and stiffness measured by puncture tests correlated with both morphological (locular number, R = −0.89), histological (cell size, R < −0.80) and biochemical (dry matter (R > 0.82) and soluble sugar content (R < −0.74)) fruit traits. In contrast, compression test values hardly correlated with any of the measured traits. This work provided an original comprehensive approach to analyse fleshy fruit firmness and paves the way for a future predictive model.     

Identification of QTLs for red fruit firmness using the wild tomato species Solanum pennellii LA716 introgression lines

The introgression lines (ILs) of the wild tomato species Solanum pennellii have been widely used to identify genes related to yield, texture, disease resistance and stress tolerance. In addition to flavour, fruit firmness is an important evaluation index and essential trait indicating tomato fruit quality. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fruit firmness have been identified through hand squeezing and pericarp puncturing. However, these techniques hardly reveal the force value of the whole fruit suffering from rupture or deformation. In this study, S. pennellii ILs were used to identify QTLs related to fruit firmness through flat‐plate compression. Nine QTLs for enhancing and sixteen QTLs for decreasing fruit firmness were successfully identified. Compared with that of ‘M82’, the amount of QTLs that enhance fruit firmness increased by 8.76% to 21.00%, and the amount of QTLs that reduce fruit firmness decreased by ?8.27% to ?30.80%. The QTL Crf12a and Crf‐R‐7b is the strongest and weakest QTL, respectively, while they are very stable in all independent biological trials. Six QTLs should be further confirmed through open‐field trials.     

The use of electrical impedance spectroscopy to assess the physiological condition of kiwifruit

The electrical impedance of kiwifruit [Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev) C.F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson, cv. Hayward] was studied during fruit ripening. Measurements were made on whole fruit, and tissues excised from the outer pericarp, inner pericarp and core. Alternating current at frequencies between 50 Hz and 1 MHz was passed through fruit and tissue samples, and complex impedance spectra were separated into the resistances of the apoplast, cytoplasm and vacuole, and capacitances of the plasma membrane and tonoplast. The differences in R_50 Hz and R_1 MHz between tissues (representative of apoplast resistance and total tissue resistance, respectively) were explained in terms of the anatomy and composition of the respective tissues. Some variations were seen from one year to the other. During ripening, there was little change in the impedance characteristics of the fruit, despite a 10-fold decrease in firmness. This was unexpected since previous studies with nectarine, persimmon and tomato fruit have shown a considerable reduction in impedance during ripening. The failure to observe any impedance change was checked using a number of different methods for measuring impedance, by two different laboratories, and confirmed by measuring electrolyte leakage from tissue discs. All the results suggested that the mobility of electrolytes within the cell wall did not change during kiwifruit ripening. We speculate that physicochemical interactions that take place within the cell wall may have a major impact on the impedance of kiwifruit tissue.     

Determining tomato fruit maturity with nondestructive in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) images were taken of freshly harvested fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Castlemart). Measurements were also made of the stage of repeness, rate of carbon dioxide and ethylene production, lycopene and chlorophyll content, density of the pericarp wall, and consistency of the locular tissue. An NMR image at 256 × 256 pixel per image and 16 levels of intensity per pixel clearly showed many structural details of the fruit. Increased intensity was associated with liquefaction of the placental tissue during ripening, while grainines of the pericarp wall was associated with a decrease in wall density. In vivo NMR imaging of mature-green fruit produced images in which differences in maturity could be seen. The long required to produce an image and the cost of operation currently precludes the use of NMR imaging to sort mature-green tomato fruit.     

Genetics of yield, quality and shelf life characteristics in tomato under normal and late planting conditions

Seventy nine genotypes of tomato (15 lines, four testers and their 60 F₁ hybrids produced in line × tester fashion) were evaluated under normal (E₁) and late planting (E₂) conditions in the Department of Vegetable Crops, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, to determine the nature of gene action controlling yield, quality and shelf life characteristics and to identify a few good combiner genotypes which may be used in further breeding programmes to extend the fruit availability period of tomato in North Indian plains. The lines were significantly different from testers for most of the characters thereby justifying the choice of testers. Additive gene action was predominant for days to ripening, total yield per plant, marketable yield per plant, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, fruit shape index and lycopene in both the environments, whereas non-additive genetic variance predominated in controlling firmness index, number of locules, pericarp thickness, alcohol insoluble solids (AIS), dry matter, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, TSS:Acid ratio, pH, ascorbic acid and shelf life, under both normal and late planting conditions. The best general combining ability (gca) effects, among females, in respect of yield per plant were shown by Spectrum in E₁ and by LT-42 in E₂. Among the testers, the best gca values in both the environments were possessed by nor-RM-1 for total yield per plant, marketable yield per plant, number of fruits per plant, dry matter and TSS; by rin-RM-2 for firmness index, pericarp thickness and alcohol insoluble solids; by alc-IIHR-2050 for average fruit weight, number of locules and shelf life and by alc-IIHR-2052 for lycopene. The gca of ripening mutants had a nice consonance with their per se performance for most of the characters indicating that additive gene action was operative in these mutants for majority of the traits.     

Effect of wounding on cell wall hydrolase activity in tomato fruit

Changes in the activity of the cell wall hydrolases – polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15), pectinesterase (EC 3.2.1.11) and β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) – have been investigated following wounding of tomato fruit pericarp tissue (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Ailsa Craig). In ripening fruit wounding appears to arrest the further synthesis of polygalacturonase. β-Galactosidase synthesis may also have been arrested in ripening fruit. The level of pectinesterase declined over the first 24 h following harvest, and since this was apparent in both wounded and unwounded tissue may be related to a harvest, rather than a wounding effect. There was a recovery of activity in intact fruit by 48 h after harvest but this seems to be impaired in wounded tissue. In the case of pectinesterase, this observation was extended to examine the changes in isoform profile and it appeared that the decline of this enzyme may be associated with the reduction of one specific isoform — PE2. In contrast to ripening fruit, wounding of fruit at the fully ripe stage appears to have no significant effects on the activities of any of these three enzymes.     

1-MCP对采后‘红心’番石榴果实软化的影响

为了从细胞壁代谢角度研究1-甲基环丙烯(1-MCP)调控采后番石榴果实软化的机制,用1 μL/L 1-MCP处理‘红心’番石榴果实试材。通过测定果实的硬度、细胞壁代谢相关物质及相关酶活性的变化,研究1-MCP处理对常温(25±1℃)贮藏下番石榴果实软化的抑制作用。结果表明,1 μL/L 1-MCP处理使采后番石榴果实的硬度比对照组果实高0.51倍,并有效抑制多聚半乳糖醛酸酶、果胶甲酯酶、纤维素酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、α-淀粉酶和β-淀粉酶的活性,减缓可溶性果胶、葡萄糖含量的增加,延缓原果胶、纤维素和淀粉含量在采后贮藏期间的下降。因此,1 μL/L 1-MCP处理能有效延缓采后‘红心’番石榴的软化进程,延长其采后贮运保鲜期。     

Genetic control over grain damage in a spring barley mapping population

A genetic map was constructed using DNA‐based markers in a barley mapping population derived from the cross ‘Tankard’בLivet’, that was developed to explore the genetic control over grain damage in spring barley cultivars. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were located for husk skinning, gape between the lemma and palea and splitting of the fused pericarp/testa/aleurone tissues. The QTL accounted for 70% of the genetic variation in Split and 60% of the genetic variation in Gape and Skinning. The QTL were clustered on chromosomes 1H, 4H, 5H, 6H and 7H. QTL analysis indicates the possibility of transgressive segregation for grain splitting and so the breeding of lines with more extreme splitting. This is of concern to the malting industry as, without extensive phenotypic assessment, such lines could be commercialized, as was the case of Landlord, and put malting barley supplies at risk. These findings are discussed in relation to the genetic control over traits including grain length and width.     

Interpreting textural changes in low temperature stored tomatoes

Low temperature storage alters tomato textural properties, resulting in unusual changes in firmness, while ripening during cool storage can confound these chilling-induced textural changes. Inconsistent results have been reported related to chilling-induced alteration in tomato texture. The effects of chilling on tomato texture were investigated using fruit stored at 2.5 or 6 °C (chilled) or 20 °C (non-chilled) for 27 d before transfer to 20 °C. Given that many factors influence the firmness of chilling-injured tomato and different measurement methods indicate different characteristics of tomato texture, the present study employed a range of textural measurement techniques in order to interpret chilling-induced textural changes in tomatoes during long term storage. Analysis of data from a range of textural methods indicated that storage at 6 °C mainly induced loss of turgor whereas 2.5 °C induced loss of tissue integrity along with turgor loss. Plotting textural changes against colour as an indicator of ripening allowed a clearer definition of chilling-induced textural change.     

Genetic and genomic approaches for improving biofuel production from maize

Grasses, which are currently at the basis of cattle feeding, will, in the near future, be a major source of cell wall carbohydrates for sustainable biofuel production. The association of lignins with other matrix components, together with linkages between cell wall carbohydrates, greatly influences cell wall properties, including the degradability of structural polysaccharides by micro-organisms in animal rumen or industrial fermenters. The improvement in biofuel production from plants is based on the understanding of the cell wall composition and assembly, and on the discovery of genetic and genomic mechanisms involved in each component biosynthesis and their depositions in each lignified tissue. While nearly 40 QTL have been shown for lignin content, only seven locations appeared of greater importance in investigated genetic resources. Expression studies highlighted that several genes in the lignin pathway are less expressed in lines with higher cell wall degradability. However, only a few lignin pathway genes mapped in QTL positions, and the fully relevant candidates might be genes involved in regulation of lignin pathway genes, or in regulation of lignified tissue assembly.     

番茄果实成熟相关基因SlPEL和SlAPL的表达特性

分析27个代表番茄不同发育阶段和生物反应的组织特异性、含有152 635个独立EST数据库的数码表达,发现果胶裂解酶基因 (pectate lyase, SlPEL) 和番茄AP2 Like (SlAPL)的转录受果实成熟的调节。以授粉后不同发育时期的番茄(品种为美味樱桃)果实为试材, 用半定量PCR和荧光实时定量PCR分析SlPEL的表达模式,结果表明,授粉后12 d,其表达水平明显上升;授粉后16~18 d,达到第一个小高峰;28 d到最高峰;从28 d到完全成熟逐步下降到第一个小高峰的水平。SlAPL的表达模式与SlPEL类似,但其表达启动的时期迟于SlPEL。从授粉后25 d,SlAPL转录启动;授粉后28~32 d,其转录水平上升到第一个小高峰;39 d达到最高峰,以后到完全成熟略有下降。该研究也印证利用EST的数据库进行基因数码表达分析的可行性。     

不同采收成熟度对阿巴特梨后熟过程中品质变化的影响

以阿巴特梨为试材,研究三个采收期的果实在后熟过程中的生理变化以及各品质指标间的相互关系。结果表明,在后熟过程中,各采期的果实均出现了明显的乙烯和呼吸高峰,其中采期Ⅱ(盛花后132 d)果实的乙烯和呼吸释放量最高。随着采期的延后,果实硬度逐渐下降,可溶性固形物含量逐渐升高,反映果皮颜色的H°值逐渐下降,L*和a*值逐渐升高,果实相关品质指标与果皮颜色呈显著相关性。总体上看,以采期Ⅱ果实的后熟品质最佳。     

Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Aluminum Tolerance in Rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

Summary Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for Al tolerance was performed in rice using a mapping population of 98 BC₁F₁₀ lines (backcross inbred lines: BILs), derived from a cross of Al-tolerant cultivar of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare) and Al-sensitive cultivar (cv. Kasalath). Three characters related to Al tolerance, including root elongation under non-stress conditions (CRE), root elongation under Al stress (SRE) and the relative root elongation (RRE) under Al stress versus non-stress conditions, were evaluated for the BILs and the parents at seedling stage. A total of seven QTLs for the three traits were identified. Among them, three putative QTLs for CRE (qCRE-6, qCRE-8 and qCRE-9) were mapped on chromosomes 6, 8 and 9, respectively. One QTL for SRE (qSRE-4) was identified on chromosome 4. Three QTLs (qRRE-5, qRRE-9 and qRRE-10) for RRE were detected on chromosomes 5, 9, 10 and accounted for 9.7–11.8% of total phenotypic variation. Interestingly, the QTL qRRE-5 appears to be syntenic with the genomic region carrying a major Al tolerance gene on chromosome 6 of maize. Another QTL, qRRE-9, appears to be similar among different rice populations, while qRRE-10 is unique in the BIL population. The common QTLs for CRE and RRE indicate that candidate genes conferring Al tolerance in the rice chromosome 9 may be associated with root growth rates. The existence of QTLs for Al tolerance was confirmed in substitution lines for corresponding chromosomal segments. These results also provide the possibilities of enhancing Al tolerance in rice through using marker-assisted selection (MAS) and pyramiding QTLs.     

甜玉米果皮厚度QTL的定位及上位性互作

果皮厚度是影响甜玉米口感的一个重要因素。发掘果皮厚度的基因资源、了解玉米果皮厚度的遗传机制,是指导其育种的基础。本研究以日超-1(薄果皮,56.57μm)×1021(厚果皮,100.23μm)的190个BC1F2家系为作图群体,分别采用2种遗传模型检测QTL。基于复合区间作图(CIM)共检测到3个影响果皮厚度的QTL,位于3.01、6.01、8.05区段,分别解释8.6%、16.0%和7.2%的表型变异,其中3.01和8.05处QTL以加性效应为主;基于混合线性CIM模型(MCIM)共检测到5个影响果皮厚度的QTL,其中除8.05处QTL为加性QTL外,另有2对加×加上位性互作QTL,1对是2.01和6.05处QTL之间的互作,另1对则是5.06和6.01处QTL间的互作。这2对互作QTL分别解释了6.63%和12.48%的表型变异率。本结果表明,加性效应和上位性互作效应等都在果皮厚度的形成和遗传中起重要作用。能够检测QTL上位互作的MCIM模型更适用于果皮厚度QTL定位。本研究还在其中4个QTL的区域内分别检索到胚乳中色素合成以及细胞转变的相关候选基因,这些基因的表达是否与果皮厚度的变异有关值得进一步研究。     

1-MCP结合自发气调包装对‘空心李’果实软化和细胞壁代谢的影响

探讨果实软化与细胞壁代谢之间的关系及1-甲基环丙烯(1-MCP)结合自发气调包装(MAP)对果实软化的调控机制,为生产中李果实软化问题提供理论依据和技术参考。笔者以贵州省特色果品‘空心李’为试材,通过测定果实的硬度、细胞壁代谢成分和细胞壁代谢酶活性的变化,研究1-MCP、MAP及两者结合(1-MCP+MAP)对(20±1)℃下果实软化的抑制效应。结果表明：（1）与对照（直接放于纸箱内）相比,1-MCP、MAP及1-MCP+MAP处理抑制了果实硬度下降,原果胶和纤维素降解,抑制了多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)、果胶甲脂酶(PME)和纤维素酶(Cx)活性增加,抑制效果为1-MCP+MAP>1-MCP>MAP。（2）果实硬度的下降与原果胶和纤维素含量呈显著正相关,与可溶性果胶含量关系表现不一,1-MCP和1-MCP+MAP处理与可溶性果胶含量呈显著负相关,而对照和MAP处理与可溶性果胶含量没有表现出明显的相关性。1-MCP、MAP、1-MCP+MAP处理和对照果实硬度的下降与PG和PME活性存在显著负相关,对照和MAP处理的果实硬度与Cx活性表现显著负相关,1-MCP和1-MCP+MAP处理果实硬度与Cx活性没有表现相关性。1-MCP结合MAP对沿河‘空心李’果实硬度下降、细胞壁物质降解及其相关酶活性有显著抑制作用,能够抑制‘空心李’果实软化,延长保鲜时间,减少采后损失。     

The Distribution Features of Polysaccharides and Lipids in the Development of Tomato Anthers

The regulation of nutrient transportation and transformation in developing anthers is very complex. We analyzed the distribution and features of polysaccharides and lipids in the developing anthers of tomatoes using histochemical methods. Some starches appeared in the connective somatic tissue of anthers during the sporogenous cell stage. Before meiosis of the microspore mother cell,a thick polysaccharide callose wall was formed,accompanied by a reduction in the connective tissue starches. During the tetrad stage after meiosis,the polysaccharide material in the anther did not change. At the early microspore stage,the starches in the connective cells again increased,and polysaccharide material appeared in the partial intine of pollen. At the late microspore stage,a large vacuole formed that did not contain lipids or starches,and only the pollen wall contained red polysaccharides. At this stage,the connective somatic cell starch amounts decreased,and the tapetal cells changed shape and degenerated. After microspore division,abundant lipids appeared in the bicellular pollen,and starches accumulated following pollen development. As the anthers matured,many lipids and some starches accumulated in the epidermal cells. Nutrient metabolism within the tomato pollen characteristically accumulated lipids first and then starches,while the mature pollen accumulated starches and lipids simultaneously. This characteristic pattern of nutrient metabolism in tomato pollen shows species specificity among plants.     

玉米抗穗粒腐病QTL定位

用已构建的包括88个AFLP标记和151个SSR标记的遗传图谱和230个F₂植株用于抗病QTL定位研究,在四川雅安、绵阳对F2株系进行抗病性鉴定,采用复合区间定位法进行抗病QTL检测。在雅安检测到位于第2、3、4、6和9染色体上的抗病QTL 6个,解释表型变异的8.3%~25.7%;在绵阳检测到位于第1、6、7和9染色体上的抗病QTL 4个,解释表型变异的11.3%~26.4%。在10个抗病QTL中,位于第6和第9染色体上的2个同时在两点被检测到,贡献率均超过15%,表明玉米穗粒腐病确实存在遗传抗病性。利用2个环境抗病指数的平均值进行抗性QTL检测,共检测到位于第1、6和7连锁群上的3个抗性QTL,单个QTL的贡献率在8.9%~17.2%之间。结果有助于了解玉米穗粒腐病的抗性机制,并为分子标记辅助选择提供理论支撑。     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for seed storability in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In the present study, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling seed storability based on relative germination rate (%) were dissected using a saturated linkage map and a recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross of japonica cultivar Asominori (Oryza sativa L.) and indica cultivar IR24 (Oryza sativa L.). A total of three QTLs (qRGR-1, qRGR-3 and qRGR-9) were detected on chromosomes 1, 3 and 9 with LOD score ranging from 3.45 to 6.95 and the phenotypic variance explained from 16.72% to 28.63%. The IR24 alleles were all associated with seed storability at all the three QTLs. The existence of these QTLs was confirmed using IR24 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) in Asominori genetic background (AIS). By QTL comparative analysis, the QTL, qRGR-9 on chromosomes 9 appeared to be consistent with another rice population, this region may provide an important region for isolating this responsible gene. These results also provide the possibilities of enhancing Seed storability in rice breeding program by marker-assisted selection (MAS) and pyramiding QTLs. Y. Xue and S. Q. Zhang—joint first authors.