Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Validation of a functional molecular marker suitable for marker-assisted breeding for fruit texture in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.)

  • Published:
Molecular Breeding Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Molecular markers are nowadays considered fundamental tools in breeding programs, supporting the selection of the most favourable offspring. This role is invaluable in the case of complex agronomic traits in tree fruit crop species, such as fruit texture in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). This work presents the validation of a previously identified functional simple sequence repeat marker, named Md-PG1SSR10kd, suitable for the advanced selection of high texture performance seedlings. Two independent populations were chosen by marker-assisted parent selection, and a specific set of seedlings was selected by marker-assisted seedling selection, to validate the predictive power of this marker. The two groups of seedlings, further phenotyped for fruit texture, showed a clear difference in texture behaviour. The selection of this marker also showed a higher efficiency than Md-ACS1 and Md-ACO1, two functional markers currently implemented in different breeding programs. Finally, the allelic effect was estimated by computing the breeding values in a collection of 83 different apple cultivars. The results reported here confirmed the association of Md-PG1SSR10kd with texture sub-traits, proposing this as a novel promising selection strategy suitable for apple fruit texture.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen JR, Lübberstedt T (2003) Functional markers in plants. Trends Plant Sci 8:554–560

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asins MJ (2002) Present and future of quantitative trait locus analysis in plant breeding. Plant Breed 12:281–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barry CS, Llop-Tous MI, Grierson D (2000) The regulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase gene expression during the transition from system-1 to system-2 ethylene synthesis in tomato. Plant Physiol 123:979–986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett AB, Labavitch JM (2008) Ethylene and ripening-regulated expression and function of fruit cell wall modifying proteins. Plant Sci 175:130–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bleecker AB, Kende H (2000) Ethylene: a gaseous signal molecule in plants. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 16:1–18

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bourne MC (2002) Food texture and viscosity: concept and measurement, 2nd edn. Academic Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Brummell DA, Harpster MH (2001) Cell wall metabolism in fruit softening and quality and its manipulation in transgenic plants. Plant Mol Biol 47:311–340

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collard BCY, Mackill DJ (2008) Marker-assisted selection: an approach for precision plant breeding in the twenty-first century. Phil Trans R Soc B-Biol Sci 363:557–572

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collard BCY, Jahufer MZZ, Brouwer JB, Pang ECK (2005) An introduction to markers, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and marker-assisted selection for crop improvement: the basic concepts. Euphytica 142:169–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costa F, Stella S, Van de Weg WE, Guerra W, Cecchinel M, Dallavia J, Koller B, Sansavini S (2005) Role of the genes Md-ACO1 and Md-ACS1 in ethylene production and shelf life of apple (Malus domestica Borkh). Euphytica 141:181–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costa F, Van de Weg WE, Stella S, Dondini L, Pratesi D, Musacchi S, Sansavini S (2008) Map position and functional allelic diversity of Md-Exp7, a new putative expansin gene associated with fruit softening in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) and pear (Pyrus communis). Tree Genet Genomes 4:575–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa F, Alba R, Schouten H, Soglio V, Gianfranceschi L, Serra S, Musacchi S, Sansavini S, Costa G, Fei ZJ, Giovannoni J (2010a) Use of homologous and heterologous gene expression profiling tools to characterize transcription dynamics during apple fruit maturation and ripening. BMC Plant Biol 10:229

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Costa F, Peace CP, Stella S, Serra S, Musacchi S, Bazzani M, Sansavini S, Van de Weg WE (2010b) QTL dynamics for fruit firmness and softening around an ethylene-dependent polygalacturonase gene in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). J Exp Bot 11:2029–3039

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa F, Cappellin L, Longhi S, Guerra W, Magnago P, Porro D, Soukoulis C, Salvi S, Velasco R, Biasioli F, Gasperi F (2011) Assessment of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruit texture by a combined acoustic-mechanical profiling strategy. Postharvest Biol Technol 61:21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa F, Cappellin L, Fontanari M, Longhi S, Guerra W, Magnago P, Gasperi F, Biasioli F (2012) Texture dynamics during postharvest cold storage ripening in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). Postharvest Biol Technol 69:54–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delannay X, McLaren G, Ribaut LM (2011) Fostering molecular breeding in developing countries. Mol Breed 29(4):857–873

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endelman JB (2011) Ridge regression and other kernels for genomic selection with R package rrBLUP. Plant Genome 4:250–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flachowsky H, Le Roux P-M, Peil A, Patocchi A, Richter K, Hanke MV (2011) Application of a high-speed breeding technology to apple (Malus × domestica) based on transgenic early flowering plants and marker-assisted selection. New Phytol 192:364–377

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giovannoni JJ, DellaPenna D, Bennett AB, Fischer RL (1989) Expression of a chimeric polygalacturonase gene in transgenic rin (ripening inhibitor) tomato fruit results in polyuronide degradation but not fruit softening. Plant Cell 1:53–63

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hampson CR, Quamme HA, Hall JW, MacDonald RA, King MC, Cliff MA (2000) Sensory evaluation as a selection tool in apple breeding. Euphytica 111:79–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harada T, Sunako T, Wakasa Y, Soejima J, Satoh T, Niizeki M (2000) An allele of the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase gene (Md-ACS1) accounts for the low level of ethylene production in climacteric fruits of some apple cultivars. Theor Appl Genet 101:742–746

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harker FR, Gunson FA, Jaeger SR (2003) The case for fruit quality: an interpretive review of consumer attitudes, and preferences for apples. Postharvest Biol Technol 28:333–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heffner EH, Sorrells ME, Jannink J-L (2009) Genomic selection for crop improvement. Crop Sci 49:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hospital F (2009) Challenges for effective marker-assisted selection in plants. Genetica 136:303–310

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kellerhals M, Furrer B (1994) Approaches for breeding apples with durable disease resistance. Euphytica 77:31–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenis K, Keulemans J, Davey MW (2008) Identification and stability of QTLs for fruit quality traits in apple. Tree Genet Genomes 4:647–661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilcast D (2004) Measuring consumer perceptions of texture: an overview. In: Texture in food: volume 2: solid foods. Woodhead Publishing Limited, Abington, Cambridge, pp 3–32

  • King GJ, Lynn JR, Dover CJ, Evans KM, Seymour GB (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

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Volz RK, Alspach PA, Bus VGM (2010) Development of a recurrent apple breeding programme in New Zealand: a strategy of results, and a proposed revised breeding strategy. Euphytica 173(2):207–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamkey KR, Lee M (1993) Quantitative genetics, molecular markers and plant improvement. Focused plant improvement: towards responsible and sustainable agriculture. In: Proceedings of tenth Australian plant breeding conference, vol 1, Gold Coast, 18–23 April 1993, pp 104–115

  • Lande R, Thompson R (1990) Efficiency of marker-assisted selection in the improvement of quantitative traits. Genetics 124:743–756

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liebhard R, Gianfranceschi L, Koller B, Ryder CD, Tarchini R, Van de Weg E, Gessler C (2002) Development and characterisation of 140 new microsatellites in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). Mol Breed 10:217–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liebhard R, Koller B, Gianfranceschi L, Gessler C (2003) Creating a saturated reference map for the apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) genome. Theor Appl Genet 106:1497–1508

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Longhi S, Moretto M, Viola R, Velasco R, Costa F (2012) Comprehensive QTL mapping survey dissects the complex fruit texture physiology in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). J Exp Bot 63(3):1107–1121

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Longhi S, Hamblin MT, Trainotti L, Peace CP, Velasco R, Costa F (2013) A candidate gene based approach validates Md-PG1 as the main responsible for a QTL impacting fruit texture in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). BMC Plant Biol 13:37

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maliepaard C, Sillanpaa MJ, van Ooijen JW, Jansen RC, Arjas E (2001) Bayesian versus frequentist analysis of multiple quantitative trait loci with an application to an outbred apple cross. Theor Appl Genet 103:1243–1253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohan M, Nair S, Bhagwat A, Krishna TG, Yano M, Bhatia CR, Sasaki T (1997) Genome mapping, molecular markers and marker-assisted selection in crop plants. Mol Breed 3:87–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moose SP, Mumm RH (2008) Molecular plant breeding as the foundation for 21st century crop improvement. Plant Physiol 147:969–977

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgante M, Salamini F (2003) From plant genomics to breeding practice. Curr Opin Biotechnol 14:214–219

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paterson AH (1998) Molecular dissection of complex traits. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL

    Google Scholar 

  • Patocchi A, Fernandez-Fernandez F, Evans K, Gobbin D, Rezzonico F, Boudichevskaia A, Dunemann F, Stankiewicz-Kosyl M, Mathis-Jeanneteau F, Durel CE, Gianfranceschi L, Costa F, Toller C, Cova V, Mott D, Komjanc M, Barbaro E, Kodde L, Rikkerink E, Gessler C, van de Weg WE (2009) Development and test of 21 multiplex PCRs composed of SSRs spanning most of the apple genome. Tree Genet Genomes 5:211–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pech JC, Bouzayen M, Latché A (2008) Climacteric fruit ripening: ethylene dependent and independent regulation of ripening pathways in melon fruit. Plant Sci 175:114–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Price AH (2006) Believe it or not, QTLs are accurate! Trends Plant Sci 11:213–216

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rafalski JA (2002) Applications of single nucleotide polymorphisms in crop genetics. Curr Opin Plant Biol 5:94–100

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rafalski JA (2010) Association genetics in crop improvement. Curr Opin Plant Biol 13:174–180

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlötterer C (2004) The evolution of molecular markers—just a matter of fashion? Nat Rev Genet 5:63–69

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sunako T, Sakuraba W, Senda M, Akada S, Ishikawa R, Niizeki M, Harada T (1999) An allele of the ripening-specific 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase gene (ACS1) in apple fruit with a long storage life. Plant Physiol 119:1297–1303

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varshney RK, Graner A, Sorrells ME (2005) Genomics-assisted breeding for crop improvement. Trends Plant Sci 10:621–630

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wakasa Y, Kudo H, Ishikawa R, Akada S, Senda M, Niizeki M, Harada T (2006) Low expression of an endopolygalacturonase gene in apple fruit with long-term storage potential. Postharvest Biol Technol 39:193–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang A, Yamakake J, Kudo H, Wakasa Y, Hatsuyama Y, Igarashi M, Kasai A, Li T, Harada T (2009) Null mutation of the MdACS3 gene, coding for a ripening-specific 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Synthase, leads to a long shelf life in apple fruit. Plant Physiol 151:391–399

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang SF, Hoffman NE (1984) Ethylene biosynthesis and its regulation in higher plants. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 35:155–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young ND (1999) A cautiously optimistic vision for marker-assisted breeding. Mol Breed 5:505–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu YM, Barritt BH (2008) Md-ACS1 and Md-ACO1 genotyping of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) breeding parents and suitability for marker-assisted selection. Tree Genet Genomes 4:555–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Y, Evans K, Peace C (2011) Utility testing of an apple skin color MdMYB1 marker in two progenies. Mol Breed 27:525–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the CANDI-HAP Post-Doc project, financed by the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy). The authors are grateful to Marco Fontanari, Mariano Pergher and Edmund Ebner for their help in sample harvesting and phenotyping.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Innovation Centre, Foundation Edmund Mach, Via Mach 1, 38010, San Michele all’Adige, TN, Italy

    Sara Longhi, Luca Cappellin & Fabrizio Costa

  2. Laimburg Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Laimburg 6, 39040, Vadena, BZ, Italy

    Walter Guerra

Authors
  1. Sara Longhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Luca Cappellin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Walter Guerra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fabrizio Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fabrizio Costa.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Longhi, S., Cappellin, L., Guerra, W. et al. Validation of a functional molecular marker suitable for marker-assisted breeding for fruit texture in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). Mol Breeding 32, 841–852 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-013-9912-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-013-9912-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation