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Carrot Volatile Terpene Metabolism: Terpene Diversity and Biosynthetic Genes

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The Carrot Genome

Part of the book series: Compendium of Plant Genomes ((CPG))

Abstract

Carrot is considered one of the leading horticultural crops in the world in terms of its nutritional value, health benefits, and unique flavor based on its high content of carotenoids and volatile aroma compounds. Terpenes such as monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes represent some of the predominant volatile compounds that contribute to carrot aroma and flavor. Variation of terpene composition based on genotypic differences or environmental factors has significant effects on taste perception by consumers and, therefore, is a critical quality attribute for carrot breeders and growers. Surprisingly, little is known about the biosynthesis of volatile terpenes in carrots and the various enzymes involved in their formation. In this chapter, we provide an overview of volatile terpene sampling and terpene diversity in different D. carota genotypes. Facilitated by the recent elucidation of the carrot genome, we further describe and discuss latest findings of the function of genes and enzymes in the terpene synthase family involved in the biosynthesis of carrot terpene volatiles.

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Abbreviations

DMAPP:

Dimethylallyl diphosphate

FPP:

Farnesyl diphosphate

GC/MS:

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

GGPP:

Geranylgeranyl diphosphate

GPP:

Geranyl diphosphate

HS:

Headspace

IDS:

Isoprenyl diphosphate synthases

MEP:

Methylerythritol phosphate

MVA:

Mevalonate

SPME:

Solid-phase micro-extraction

TPS:

Terpene synthase

VOC:

Volatile organic compound

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grant IS-4745-14R from the US-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (to M.I. and D.T.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Newe Ya’ar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Post Office Box 1021, 30095, Ramat Yishay, Israel

    Mwafaq Ibdah, Mossab Yahyaa & Bhagwat Nawade

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 409 Latham Hall, 220 Ag Quad Lane, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Andrew Muchlinski & Dorothea Tholl

Authors
  1. Mwafaq Ibdah
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  2. Andrew Muchlinski
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  3. Mossab Yahyaa
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  4. Bhagwat Nawade
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  5. Dorothea Tholl
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Mwafaq Ibdah or Dorothea Tholl .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vegetable Crops Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Madison, WI, USA

    Philipp Simon

  2. Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University , Kannapolis, NC, USA

    Massimo Iorizzo

  3. University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland

    Dariusz Grzebelus

  4. Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland

    Rafal Baranski

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Ibdah, M., Muchlinski, A., Yahyaa, M., Nawade, B., Tholl, D. (2019). Carrot Volatile Terpene Metabolism: Terpene Diversity and Biosynthetic Genes. In: Simon, P., Iorizzo, M., Grzebelus, D., Baranski, R. (eds) The Carrot Genome. Compendium of Plant Genomes. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03389-7_16

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