| Abstract Detail
Conference Wide Hurst, Susan [1], Slade, Ann [1], Facciotti, Daniel [2], Steine, Michael [1], Loeffler, Dayna [1], McGuire, Cate [2], Barrios, Carrie [2], Vafeados, Dionne [1]. A reverse genetic approach to tomato crop improvement using the non-transgenic technology, TILLING. THE tomato polygalacturonase enzyme breaks down cell wall pectins during fruit ripening. This natural process has consequences for both the fresh and processing tomato industries. In fresh tomatoes, PG contributes to the rapid softening of vine-ripened fruit, resulting in mechanical bruising during shipping. In processed tomatoes, PG must be heat-inactivated to prevent the breakdown of solids, resulting in higher energy costs for the processing tomato industry. Until recently, satisfactory reduction of endogenous PG activity has required transgenic technologies. We report here the identification of reduction-of-function alleles of the endogenous PG locus. We identified these alleles using a reverse genetic approach called TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes). TILLING is a high-throughput PCR-based screening technique that identifies EMS-induced DNA variation in M2 populations. Using this technique, we have identified two missense mutations in PG that severely affect enzyme activity. Molecular and phenotypic results will be presented that demonstrate that the novel PG alleles can be used to improve both fresh and processing tomato lines, validating TILLING as a molecular breeding tool for creating tomato lines with enhanced quality traits.
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1 - Arcadia Biosciences, 1124 Columbia St., Eklind Hall, Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
2 - Arcadia Biosciences, 202 Cousteau Place, Suite 200, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
Keywords:
TILLING
polygalacturonase
tomato
Molecular breeding
Quality traits
Non-transgenic.
Session: Poster-165
Location: Ballroom CD/Monona Terrace
Date: Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
Time: 8:00 AM
Abstract ID:454 |
