Predominant expression of diploid mandarin leaf proteome in two citrus mandarin-derived somatic allotetraploid hybrids

Fusion of citrus diploid parental protoplasts generates allotetraploid hybrids which do not retain their parental traits with regard to leaf aroma compound biosynthesis. The aim of this study was thus to examine hybrid leaf proteomes in comparison with their parents. Leaf soluble proteins from two citrus allotetraploid hybrids (mandarin + lime and mandarin + kumquat) and their diploid parents (mandarin, lime, and kumquat) were submitted to 2-D gel electrophoresis. Leaf proteome maps of the tetraploid hybrids were compared with those of their parents on the basis of the presence/absence of spots and of their spot relative volumes. The two allotetraploid hybrid maps were found closer to that of their mandarin parent than to those of their nonmandarin parents in terms of the presence/absence of spots as well as at a quantitative level. This approach has to be related to the already observed dominance of mandarin in allotetraploids with regard to volatile compound biosynthesis in leaves.