Genetic Control of Fruit Vitamin C Contents

• Published in: Plant physiology (Bethesda) Vol. 142; no. 1; pp. 343 - 351
• Main Authors: Davey, Mark W, Kenis, Katrien, Keulemans, Johan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rockville, MD American Society of Plant Biologists 01.09.2006; American Society of Plant Physiologists
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Economic plant physiology; Fructification, ripening. Postharvest physiology; Fruit - metabolism; Fruit - physiology; Fruits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, Plant; Genetic mapping; Genetics, Genomics, and Molecular Evolution; Growth and development; Malus; Malus - genetics; Malus - metabolism; Metabolism; Nutritive Value; Phenotypic traits; Plants; Population characteristics; Population mean; Quantitative Trait Loci; Vitamin C; Agronomic character; Quantitative trait loci; Fruit; Genetic control; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Rosaceae; Homeostasis; Spermatophyta; Malus; Heterozygosity
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.106.083279
• ISSN: 0032-0889; 1532-2548

An F₁ progeny derived from a cross between the apple (Malus x domestica) cultivars Telamon and Braeburn was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) linked to the vitamin C (L-ascorbate [L-AA]) contents of fruit skin and flesh (cortex) tissues. We identified up to three highly significant QTLs for both the mean L-AA and the mean total L-AA contents of fruit flesh on both parental genetic linkage maps, confirming the quantitative nature of these traits. These QTLs account for up to a maximum of 60% of the total population variation observed in the progeny, and with a maximal individual contribution of 31% per QTL. QTLs common to both parents were identified on linkage groups (LGs) 6, 10, and 11 of the Malus reference map, while each parent also had additional unique QTLs on other LGs. Interestingly, one strong QTL on LG-17 of the Telamon linkage map colocalized with a highly significant QTL associated with flesh browning, and a minor QTL for dehydroascorbate content, supporting earlier work that links fruit L-AA contents with the susceptibility of hardfruit to postharvest browning. We also found significant minor QTLs for skin L-AA and total L-AA (L-AA + dehydroascorbate) contents in Telamon. Currently, little is known about the genetic determinants underlying tissue L-AA homeostasis, but the presence of major, highly significant QTL in both these apple genotypes under field conditions suggests the existence of common control mechanisms, allelic heterozygosity, and helps outline strategies and the potential for the molecular breeding of these traits.