Comparative genomics of cell wall remodelling genes in fleshy fruit species and the control of fruit softening in tomato
Fruits are the seed dispersal units of flowering plants and fleshy fruits form an important part of the human diet. Ripening is a complex developmental process and involves many events such as textural and constitutional changes. The texture of fleshy fruits is one of the major criteria for consu...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English English English |
| Published: |
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/61695/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/61695/1/ABSTRACTicast.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/61695/7/ICAST-POSTER%20%282%29.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/61695/13/61695-program%20schedule.pdf |
| Summary: | Fruits are the seed dispersal units of flowering plants and fleshy fruits form an important part of
the human diet. Ripening is a complex developmental process and involves many events such as
textural and constitutional changes. The texture of fleshy fruits is one of the major criteria for
consumer choice. However, the molecular determinants of ripening- associated changes in
texture or “softening” are relatively poorly understood and seem to involve a large number of
cell wall remodelling factors. The recent completion of the tomato genome sequence has
revealed more than 50 cell wall structure-related genes that are expressed during fruit
development and ripening and may impact texture changes in this fruit (Tomato Genome
Consortium, 2012). Also expression of these genes appears to be under both genetic and
epigenetic control. The aim of the project is to compare, on a genome-wide scale, ripeningrelated
gene expression in a range of fleshy fruits and especially those linked with cell wall
remodelling. Then by identifying orthologous genes in different fruit species to make predictions
about those genes likely to important for the softening process in all fleshy fruits. We
hypothesise that there is a core set of genes that is always associated with fruit softening. Several
software have been used in this study such as Inparanoid, SyMAP and OrtoMCL.Comparative
genomics analysis of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), banana (Musa acuminate), melon
(Cucumis melo) and grape (Vitis vinifera), has been undertaken using Inparanoid software. This
analysis showed that a total of 8,982 (25.86%) gene models could be identified in common
between all four genomes based on comparison of amino acid sequences. Of these 8,982 genes,
262 in tomato, 252 in grape, 261 in melon, and 198 in banana were identified as encoding cell
wall structure-related proteins. However, comparison of the expression patterns of these genes
revealed that most were expressed in tissues other than ripening fruits, and of the fruit expressed
genes only a small number were common between different fruit species. This in silico analysis
should provide additional clues as to genes to target for manipulation of fruit softening in a range
of fleshy fruit species. These also provide new opportunities to develop varieties of tomatoes that
can survive the trip from the farm to the grocery store whilst maintaining excellent flavour and
shelf-life |
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