Abstract
Maximizing fruit size is critical for profitable sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) production. Yet, despite its importance, little is known about the genetic control of fruit size. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for fruit size and two essential components of fruit size, mesocarp cell number and size. This study utilized a double pseudo-testcross population derived from reciprocal crosses between a sweet cherry cultivar with ~8 g fruit, “Emperor Francis” (EF), and a wild forest sweet cherry selection with ~2 g fruit, “New York 54” (NY). A total of 190 F1 progeny previously utilized for the construction of the linkage maps were evaluated in 2006 and 2007 for fruit weight, length, and diameter; mesocarp cell number and length; and pit length and diameter. In 2008, a subset of this population was again evaluated for fruit weight. Correlation analysis revealed that the three fruit size traits were highly correlated with each other, and mesocarp cell number, not cell length, was correlated with fruit size. Three QTLs were identified for each fruit size trait, and one QTL was identified for mesocarp cell number. Fruit size QTLs were found on linkage group 2 on the EF map (EF 2) and linkage groups 2 and 6 on the NY map (NY 2 and NY 6). On EF 2, the cell number QTL clustered with the fruit size QTL, suggesting that the underlying basis of the fruit size increase associated with this QTL was an increase in mesocarp cell number. On NY 6, pit length and diameter QTLs clustered with those for fruit size, suggesting that the underlying morphological basis of this fruit size QTL is the difference in pit size.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Clarke JB, Sargent DJ, Bošković RI, Belaj A, Tobutt KR (2009) A cherry map from the inter-specific cross Prunus avium ‘Napoleon’ × P. nipponica based on microsatellite gene-specific and isoenzyme markers. Tree Genet Genomes 5:41–51
Cowan AK, Moore-Gordon CS, Bertling I, Wolstenholme BN (1997) Metabolic control of avocado fruit growth: isoprenoid growth regulators and the reaction catalyzed by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. Plant Physiol 114:511–518
Dirlewanger E, Moing A, Rothan C, Svanella L, Pronier V, Guye A, Plomion MR (1999) Mapping QTLs controlling fruit quality in peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch). Theor Appl Genet 98:18–31
Dirlewanger E, Cosson P, Tavaud M, Aranzana MJ, Poizat C, Zanetto A, Arús P, Laigret R (2002) Development of microsatellite markers in peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) and their use in genetic diversity analysis in peach and sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.). Theor Appl Genet 105:127–138
Etienne C, Rothan C, Moing A, Plomion C, Bodénè C, Svanella-Dumas L, Cosson P, Pronier V, Monet R, Dirlewanger E (2002) Candidate genes and QTLs for sugar and organic acid contents in peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch]. Theor Appl Genet 105:145–159
Fogle HW (1961) Inheritance of some fruit and tree characteristics in sweet cherry crosses. Proc Amer Soc Hort Sci 78:76–85
Frary A, Nesbitt TC, Frary A, Grandillo S, van der Knaap E, Cong B, Liu J, Meller J, Elber R, Alpert KB, Tanksley SD (2000) fw2.2: A quantitative trait locus key to the evolution of tomato fruit size. Sci 289:85–88
Grandillo S, Ku HM, Tanksley SD (1999) Identifying the loci responsible for natural variation in fruit size and shape in tomato. Theor Appl Genet 99:978–987
Harada T, Kurahashi W, Yanai M, Wakasa Y, Satoh T (2005) Involvement of cell proliferation and cell enlargement in increasing the fruit size of Malus species. Sci Hort (Amsterdam) 105:447–456
Higashi K, Hosoya K, Ezura H (1999) Histological analysis of fruit development between two melon (Cucumis melo L. reticulatus) genotypes setting a different size of fruit. J Exp Bot 50:1593–1597
Kenis K, Keulemans J, Davey WM (2008) Identification and stability of QTLs for fruit quality traits in apple. Tree Genet Genomes 4:647–661
King GJ, Lynn J, Dover CJ, Evans KM (2001) Resolution of quantitative trait loci for mechanical measures accounting for genetic variation in fruit texture of apple (Malus pumila Mill). Theor Appl Genet 102:1227–1235
Lamb RC (1953) Notes on the inheritance of some characters in the sweet cherry Prunus avium. Proc Amer Soc Hort Sci 61:293–298
Liebhard R, Kellerhals M, Pfammatter W, Jertmini M, Gessler C (2003) Mapping quantitative physiological traits in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). Plant Mol Biol 52:511–526
Lippman Z, Tanksley SD (2001) Dissecting the genetic pathway to extreme fruit size in tomato using a cross between the small-fruited wild species Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium and L. esculentum var. Giant Heirloom. Genetics 158:413–422
Liu J, Bin Cong B, Tanksley SD (2003) Generation and analysis of an artificial gene dosage series in tomato to study the mechanisms by which the cloned quantitative trait locus fw2.2 controls fruit size. Plant Physiol 132:292–299
Mathews P (1973) Some recent advances in sweet cherry genetics and breeding. Proc EUCARPIA Fruit Section Symp 5 Topic Fruit Breeding, Canterbury, 84–107
Olmstead JW, Iezzoni AF, Whiting MD (2007) Genotypic differences in sweet cherry fruit size are primarily a function of cell number. J Amer Soc Hort Sci 132:697–703
Olmstead JW, Sebolt AM, Cabrera A, Sooriyapathirana SS, Hammar S, Iriarte G, Wang D, Chen CY, van der Knaap E, Iezzoni AF (2008) Construction of an intra-specific sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) genetic linkage map and synteny analysis with the Prunus reference map. Tree Genet Genomes 4:897–910
Paterson AH (2002) What has QTL mapping taught us about plant domestication? New Phytol 154:591–608
Prudent M, Causse M, Génard M, Tripodi P, Grandillo S, Bertin N (2009) Genetic and physiological analysis of tomato fruit weight and composition: influence of carbon availability on QTL detection. J Expt Bot 60:923–937
Quilot B, Génard M (2008) Is competition between mesocarp cells of peach fruits affected by the percentage of wild species (Prunus davidiana) genome? J Plant Res 121:55–63
Quilot B, Wu BH, Kervella J, Génard M, Foulongne M, Moreau K (2004) QTL analysis of quality traits in an advanced backcross between Prunus persica cultivars and the wild relative species P. davidiana. Theor Appl Genet 109:884–897
Rapoport H, Manrique T, Gucci R (2004) Cell division and expansion in the olive fruit. Acta Hort 636:461–465
Institute SAS (1999) SAS/SAT users guide, version 8.1. SAS Institute, Cary
Scorza R, May LG, Purnell B, Upchurch B (1991) Differences in number and area of mesocarp cells between small- and large fruited peach cultivars. J Amer Soc Hort Sci 116:861–864
Sewell MM, Davis MF, Tuskan GA, Wheeler NC, Elam CC, Bassoni DL, Neale DB (2002) Identification of QTLs influencing wood property traits in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). II. Chemical wood properties. Theor Appl Genet 104:214–222
Shomura A, Izawa T, Ebana K, Ebitani T, Kanegae H, Konishi S, Yano M (2008) Deletion of a gene associated with grain size increased yields during rice domestication. Nature Genet 40:1023–1028
Song X, Huang W, Shi M, Zhu M, Lin H (2007) A QTL for rice grain width and weight encodes a previously unknown RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase. Nature Genet 39:623–630
Tukey HB, Young JO (1939) Histological study of the developing fruit of the sour cherry. Bot Gaz 100:723–749
Van Ooijen JW (2004) MapQTL® 5, software for the mapping of quantitative trait loci in experimental populations. Kyazma BV, Wageningen
Voorrips RE (2002) MapChart: software for the graphical presentation of linkage maps and QTLs. J Hered 93:77–78
Wang D, Karle R, Iezzoni A (2000) QTL analysis of flower and fruit traits in sour cherry. Theor Appl Genet 100:535–544
Whiting MD, Ophardt D, McFerson JR (2006) Chemical blossom thinners vary in their effect on sweet cherry fruit set, yield, fruit quality, and crop value. Hort Tech 16:66–70
Yamaguchi M, Haji T, Miyake M, Yaegaki H (2002) Studies on the varietal differences and yearly deviation of mesocarp cell numbers and lengths and fruit weight among commercial peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] cultivars and selections, wild types, and their hybrids. J Jpn Soc Hort Sci 71:459–466
Yamaguchi M, Sato I, Takase K, Watanabe A, Ishiguro M (2004) Differences and yearly variation in number and size of mesocarp cells in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars and related species. J Jpn Soc Hort Sci 73:12–18
Yamamoto T, Shimada T, Imai T, Yaegaki H, Haji T, Matsuta N, Yamaguchi M, Hayashi T (2001) Characterization of morphological traits based on a genetic linkage map in peach. Breeding Sci 51:271–278
Yamamoto T, Mochida K, Imai T, Shi YZ, Ogiwara I, Hayashi T (2002) Microsatellite markers in peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) derived from an enriched genomic and cDNA libraries. Mol Ecol Notes 2:298–301
Zhang C, Tanabe K, Wang S, Tamura F, Yoshioka A, Matsumoto K (2006) The impact of cell division and cell enlargement on the evolution of fruit size in Pyrus pyrifolia. Ann Bot (Lond) 98:537–543
Acknowledgment
This project was supported by the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2005-35300-15454 from the US Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by E. Dirlewanger
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, G., Sebolt, A.M., Sooriyapathirana, S.S. et al. Fruit size QTL analysis of an F1 population derived from a cross between a domesticated sweet cherry cultivar and a wild forest sweet cherry. Tree Genetics & Genomes 6, 25–36 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-009-0225-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-009-0225-x