Abstract
Fruit size, shape and colour are important determinants of fruit quality in tomato. Among the different genetic factors, the OVATE gene is a key regulator of fruit elongation in tomato. The loss-of-function recessive ovate allele results from a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the second exon of the gene to produce fruit elongation and variable fruit shapes in different genetic backgrounds. The mutation has also been associated with increased fruit firmness, a desirable trait for processing purpose of tomato. However, the recessive nature of this important mutant allele makes its identification and utilization in breeding programme difficult. Hence, we developed the OVATE gene-based functional marker using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system (T-ARMS) strategy. The developed functional marker was capable of identifying the allelic status at OVATE locus in a co-dominant manner, using routine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by standard agarose gel electrophoresis. Trait–marker association of the developed functional marker was validated in the F2 segregants bearing elongated and non-elongated fruits. Thus, the functional marker developed and validated in this study will assist the tomato breeders in identification and introgression of the desired allelic version of the OVATE gene in a time-, labour- and cost-effective manner. Moreover, identification of the allelic status at the OVATE locus will help in exploring its interacting partners and modifiers for detailed understanding of the fascinating genetics behind fruit shape variation in tomato.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, ICAR-IIVR Varanasi and BCKV, West Bengal for providing tomato seed materials. AM thanks ICAR, India, for providing scholarship. Financial support from BAU in terms of project grant (Code: SNP/CI/Rabi/2018-5) is highly acknowledged. This article bears BAU COMMUNICATION NO. 973/210326.
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TC conceived the idea. DM, AM and TC designed the primers and performed the laboratory experiments. DM, AM, SA, and TC carried out plant hybridization, population development, and field and fruit shape data recording works. DM and AM contributed equally. All the authors took part in the preparation and correction of the manuscript. All the authors read the final manuscript and approved it.
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Tomato OVATE gene (Solyc02g085500 and GenBank: AY140893).
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13205_2021_3029_MOESM1_ESM.tif
Figure Sf1. Variation in fruit size, fruit shape and mature fruit colour in the 23 tomato genotypes used in the study. (TIF 3123 kb)
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Figure Sf2. Frequency distribution of fruit shape index (FSI) values in 200 F2 segregants derived from the parents IIHR 2614 (ovate) x VRTOLCV-32 (OVATE). (TIF 1382 kb)
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Figure Sf3. Graphical representation of mean fruit length, mean fruit width and FSI values in selected F2 segregants bearing elongated (E) and non-elongated (NE) fruits. (TIF 1748 kb)
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Maurya, D., Mukherjee, A., Akhtar, S. et al. Development and validation of the OVATE gene-based functional marker to assist fruit shape selection in tomato. 3 Biotech 11, 474 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-021-03029-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-021-03029-7