Unlocking the secrets of salt stress tolerance in wild tomatoes

Boyce Thompson Institute

As our climate changes and soil salinity increases in many agricultural areas, finding crops that can thrive in these challenging conditions is crucial. Cultivated tomatoes, while delicious, often struggle in salty soils. Their wild cousins, however, have evolved to survive in diverse and often harsh environments. A recent study delved into the genetic treasure trove of wild tomatoes to uncover secrets of salt tolerance that could be used to develop resilient crop varieties.

A team of researchers focused on Solanum pimpinellifolium, the closest wild relative of our beloved cultivated tomato. These tiny, cherry-sized fruits might not look impressive, but they pack a punch when it comes to genetic diversity and stress resistance.

The team began by exposing the wild tomatoes to varying levels of salt stress. Then, they used high-throughput phenotyping techniques in both greenhouse and field conditions to uncover extensive variations in how these plants responded to the salty conditions.

“One of the study’s most intriguing findings was that a plant’s overall vigor – its ability to grow quickly and robustly – played a significant role in its salt tolerance. This suggests that breeding healthier, more vigorous plants could indirectly improve their ability to withstand salt stress,” said Magda Julkowska, an assistant professor at the Boyce Thompson Institute and lead author of the study, which was recently published in The Plant Journal.

The researchers found that traits such as transpiration rate (the amount of water vapor a plant loses through its leaves), shoot mass (the weight of the plant's above-ground parts), and ion accumulation (the build-up of ions, such as sodium and potassium, within plant tissues) showed significant correlations with plant performance under salt stress. Interestingly, while transpiration rate was a key determinant of plant performance in the greenhouse, shoot mass strongly correlated with yield under field conditions.

“We were surprised to find that the amount of salt the plants accumulated in their leaves wasn’t as important to their overall performance as previously thought,” said Julkowska. “This challenges some existing ideas about how plants cope with salt stress and opens up new avenues for research.”

One of the most exciting findings was the identification of candidate genes not previously associated with salt stress tolerance. Julkowska added, "These specific genotypes can be used as allele donors for further improving crop performance and developing more sustainable agriculture."

The study contributes to a better understanding of salt stress tolerance in wild tomato species and lays the groundwork for further investigations into the genetic basis of these traits. The findings can inform breeding efforts for salinity tolerance in tomatoes and other crops. This could lead to expanded growing regions, more stable yields in the face of changing climates, and potentially tomatoes that require less water and fewer resources to cultivate.

While we might not see salt-loving tomatoes on supermarket shelves anytime soon, this research is a significant step toward creating a more resilient and sustainable food system. It's a powerful reminder that sometimes, the solutions to our most pressing agricultural challenges might be found in the wild relatives of the plants we already know and love.

This research was funded in part by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Australian Government under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

About the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI)
Founded in 1924 and located in Ithaca, New York, BTI is at the forefront of plant science research. Our mission is to advance, communicate, and leverage pioneering discoveries in plant sciences to develop sustainable and resilient agriculture, improve food security, protect the environment, and enhance human health. As an independent nonprofit research institute affiliated with Cornell University, we are committed to inspiring and training the next generation of scientific leaders. Learn more at BTIscience.org.

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Journal

The Plant Journal

DOI

10.1111/tpj.16894 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Cells

Article Title

Deciphering salt stress responses in Solanum pimpinellifolium through high-throughput phenotyping

 

Research aims to streamline the detection of foodborne viruses

UMass Amherst receives USDA grant to develop rapid, portable, single-tube technology to help maintain safety of the food supply

University of Massachusetts Amherst

 

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Virologist Matthew Moore is a UMass Amherst associate professor of food science.

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Credit: UMass Amherst

Detecting foodborne viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A – before and after contaminated food reaches the public and makes people sick – is like finding a needle in a proverbial haystack, says University of Massachusetts Amherst food scientist and virologist Matthew Moore.

So, Moore, an associate professor of food science, is on a continuing quest to devise more efficient and effective ways to identify these food-borne viruses in time to prevent or quickly respond to an outbreak of gastroenteritis, or worse. 

“One of the biggest challenges in effectively and routinely detecting viruses in foods and the environment is the lack of an efficient method to concentrate a small number of viruses from a large, complex food/environmental sample,” Moore explains. “Often, viral contamination of foods and the environment occurs at low levels even though consumption of the foods can still get people sick – because only a small number of viruses are needed to cause illness.”

The low levels of viruses are what creates the needle-in-the-haystack problem. “One of the major roadblocks to being able to easily detect viruses in foods is the lack of a portable, fast means of picking out these viruses out of large food samples into a smaller volume so we can readily detect them,” Moore adds.

To attack this problem, Moore has received a $650,000 grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) to develop and investigate magnetic liquids for concentrating and detecting foodborne noroviruses and hepatitis A. 

Moore and collaborators at Iowa State University, Jared Anderson and Byron Brehm-Stecher, will look at two types of magnetic liquids – magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) – for concentrating noroviruses (the leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the U.S.) and hepatitis A virus from food and environmental samples. “Both MILs and DESs have shown promise for concentration and detection of other pathogen and contamination targets, like bacteria, but work on viruses is still limited,” Moore says. 

This project builds on research in Moore’s lab by doctoral student Sloane Stoufer, who received a NIFA fellowship doing foundational work with MILs. Stoufer’s research suggests that MILs may be promising reagents for concentration and detection of closely related surrogate viruses to human noroviruses, as well as for extracting their viral genomes for amplification-based detection. Further, the project builds on additional promising data produced by then-undergraduate UMass Amherst researcher Lily Saad, now a graduate student, whose work showed similar promise for DESs. 

Traditional methods require several, labor-intensive and time-consuming steps for separation of the virus from the contaminated sample and concentration into a smaller volume to increase the likelihood of obtaining a detectable level of virus. 

Moore and team’s research aims to combine the steps, streamlining the viral detection process, better preventing foodborne illness and improving the public health response.

“Given their potential for concentrating a wide range of foodborne pathogens and contaminants from foods, as well as their ability for also capturing nucleic acids, magnetic liquids have the potential to be a valuable one-stop reagent for upstream processing of samples in a portable, rapid, single-tube manner that could help maintain the safety of the food supply,” Moore says.

 

Battling bugs with big data: sweetpotato's genomic-metagenomic pest shield

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science

 

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Sunbursts showing the species-level relative abundance of taxa in the leaf-associated metagenomes of the diversity (A) and DC biparental (B) populations (from center to outer ring: phylum, genus, and species). For each population, taxa within the phylum Arthropoda (insects and mites) are shown in the top right sunbursts of each panel, and a subset of the correlation network is shown to highlight significant interactions with Bemisia tabaci.

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Credit: Horticulture Research

Sweetpotato, a staple in combating global hunger, faces significant threats from pests like whiteflies and weevils, impacting plant growth and yields. A new study harnesses the power of genomic and metagenomic data to predict pest abundance and identify key genes that could fortify the plant's defense mechanisms.

Sweetpotatoes suffer significant yield losses due to pests like whiteflies and weevils, which affect plant growth and productivity. Traditional breeding methods face challenges in quickly addressing these complex pest interactions. The role of microbial communities in plant defense is gaining attention as a potential solution. Due to these issues, there is an increasing need for in-depth research to understand and harness plant-microbiome interactions for developing pest-resistant sweetpotato varieties.

Researchers from the University of Tennessee and their collaborators published a study (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae135) on May 10, 2024, in Horticulture Research. The study investigates how metagenomic data can be used to enhance the understanding of plant-insect interactions in sweetpotatoes. By integrating metagenome data, the researchers aim to improve the accuracy of genomic predictions for pest resistance.

The study utilized high-throughput sequencing and metagenome profiling to examine the interactions between sweetpotatoes and insect pests, particularly whiteflies. Through quantitative reduced representation sequencing (qRRS), the researchers identified significant correlations between insect pests and various microbial communities within the sweetpotato metagenome. Notably, the study found that ethylene and cell wall modification pathways are crucial for resistance to whiteflies. By incorporating metagenome data as covariates in genomic prediction models, the researchers achieved a significant improvement in predictive accuracy for pest resistance. This comprehensive approach revealed that modeling the metagenome alongside the host genome provides a more accurate prediction of pest resistance, emphasizing the potential of metagenome-informed breeding strategies to develop sweetpotato varieties with enhanced pest resistance.

Dr. Bode A. Olukolu, the lead researcher, stated, "Our findings support the holobiont theory, suggesting that considering the metagenome alongside the host genome provides a more accurate prediction of pest resistance. This approach has the potential to revolutionize breeding strategies for sweetpotatoes and other crops."

The integration of metagenome data into breeding programs could lead to the development of sweetpotato varieties with enhanced resistance to pests, reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides. This study paves the way for further research into the role of plant-associated microbial communities in crop protection and sustainability.

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References

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae135

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae135

Funding information

This study was funded by the USDA-NIFA Hatch/Multistate Project W5157-TEN00539, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (grant ID OPP1052983 and OPP1213329), and the Illumina Agricultural Greater Good Initiative grant.

About Horticulture Research

Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2022. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.

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Journal

Horticulture Research

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae135 

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Metagenome-enabled models improve genomic predictive ability and identification of herbivory-limiting genes in sweetpotato

 

Organic farms certified by peers display higher product diversity

A study conducted in São Paulo state (Brazil) showed that farms with peer-to-peer certification had 58.8 organic items on average, while farms conventionally certified by third parties had 22.2.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

 

In Brazil, a study compared two systems of organic product certification implemented in São Paulo state. One system involves conventional certification by auditors accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO). The other is peer-to-peer certification.

The study, reported in an article published in the journal Organic Agriculture, suggests that peer-to-peer certification adds the virtue of agrobiodiversity to organic farming in light of the significantly larger number of products offered by farms with this type of certification. “This avoids reproducing in the organic context the tendency to prefer large-scale monoculture for the production of commodities,” said Tayrine Parreira Brito, first author of the article and a PhD candidate at the State University of Campinas’s School of Agricultural Engineering (FEAGRI-UNICAMP).

Organic farming has expanded exponentially in many countries in recent decades. According to data collected by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and IFOAM – Organics International, the area planted with organic crops worldwide increased by over 53 million hectares between 2012 and 2022. This growth corresponds to more than twice the area of São Paulo state, which is 24,821,900 hectares.

Brazil ranks fourth worldwide in terms of organic acreage, with over 1 million hectares of organic crops. It is Latin America’s largest market for organic produce, estimated to have reached BRL 4 billion in retail sales in 2022. The number of organic farms in Brazil rose 448.63% to 26,622 between 2012 and 2021.

The market is sizable but, according to experts, however desirable the organic option may be from the standpoint of human health and to minimize the adverse environmental impacts of agriculture, it needs to be combined with other environmental and societal parameters. 

An example of what Brito calls the “conventionalization of organic agriculture” is what is happening in Africa, where soybeans grown for export to the European Union account for 35% of total organic production. “It’s an important source of hard currency for countries like Togo and others, but this ultra-specialization doesn’t directly help solve food problems for the local population, nor does it have a basis in the African continent’s traditional crops or cultures,” she said.

The Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) has boosted Brazilian organic diversity. “PGS is a peer-to-peer certification system that assesses production as a whole rather than just the output sold in the marketplace,” she said. 

“Our comparison of PGS-certified units with units certified by third parties in São Paulo state showed that the former had 58.8 organic items per farm on average, while the latter had 22.2. This greater diversity includes a rich variety of crops, most of which are native and medicinal species. Native fruit trees such as jabuticaba, pitanga and uvaia, which aren’t significant on the conventional market, are sold at organic farmers’ markets during the fruiting season and are an extra source of income.”

Conventional certification by third parties applies to relatively few products, most of which are for export, whereas the PGS system is more holistic and inclusive, encouraging family farms to use more agroecological practices. “This suggests that PGS can play a key role in avoiding the conventionalization of organic agriculture and ensuring it remains true to the original principles of sustainability and biodiversity,” Brito said.

From a practical standpoint, there is no conflict between PGS and third-party certification. Some farmers use both, placing two organic compliance seals on their products. Internationally speaking, however, Chile is the only country besides Brazil that accepts PGS certification. “In Brazil and Chile, recognition of PGS and third-party certification is the same. Products can be sold via direct contact with consumers and indirectly via retailers, including supermarket chains. In other countries, such as Mexico and Costa Rica, recognition is confined to products sold directly to end-consumers,” Brito said.

The situation may change, but for the time being farmers require certification by a universally recognized third party to sell organic produce to the EU, United States and elsewhere.

This does not stop some farmers from seeking ways to correct the course of their activity in order to avoid conventionalization. An example is a major organic coffee family farming co-op, whose leaders recently realized that ultra-specialized coffee growing was making members entirely dependent on the market to meet their minimal food needs. 

“PGS has contributed significantly to avoidance of this kind of distortion. Its horizontal methodology creates a social network of solidarity that promotes inclusion and valorizes family farming, connecting producers and consumers, and reducing the distance between town and country,” said Vanilde de Souza-Esquerdo, a co-author of the article. She is a professor at FEAGRI-UNICAMP who acts as Brito’s thesis advisor and heads the institution’s Rural Extension and Agroecology Laboratory (LERA), which has been conducting research on PGS for over ten years.

“We have produced theses, dissertations and publications on PGS from different perspectives, making us one of the world’s leading research groups in the field,” she said.

For Souza-Esquerdo, an important aspect of PGS is the inclusion of social and behavioral criteria in its certification parameters. “For example, violence against women is inadmissible. Organic certification is denied to farms where this type of situation is found to occur,” she said.

The study was part of the research project “Limits, challenges and potential of the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) in rural settlements in the state of São Paulo”, conducted by Brito with Souza-Esquerdo as principal investigator, and supported by a scholarship from FAPESP. 

About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe.

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Journal

Organic Agriculture

DOI

10.1007/s13165-024-00468-3 

Article Title

Agrobiodiversity in Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS)

 

Looking to boost your heart health? Try a baked potato

Nutrition sciences professor Neda Akhavan's recent study suggests spuds as a potential superfood for those with Type 2 diabetes

Reports and Proceedings

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

 

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The health benefits of potatoes are misunderstood, according to research by professor Neda Akhavan in UNLV's Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences. 

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Credit: Becca Schwartz/UNLV

The potato is small enough to fit inside a person’s hand yet contains enough nutrients to whittle waistlines and lower blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Yet, despite the fact that potatoes – particularly the skins – are packed with health-boosting nutrients, they routinely get a bad rap among dieters.

That may soon change, thanks to new research by Neda Akhavan, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences within UNLV’s School of Integrated Health Sciences. Akhavan recently presented her findings on the cardiovascular benefits of potatoes for those living with Type 2 diabetes to the Alliance for Potato Research and Education.

“I like doing research on food items that are highly stigmatized in the nutrition world,” she said. “Most people associate the potato as something that is mostly fried or has a lot of fat, and we wanted to shine a light on how a potato – when prepared properly – can be both functional and healthy.”

Putting Potatoes to the Test

Akhavan enlisted 24 participants for the study, all of whom had Type 2 diabetes that was well controlled with medication. Funded by the Alliance for Potato Research and Education, this is believed to be the first study of its kind to scientifically measure the cardiovascular benefits of potatoes for adults with diabetes. 

Participants in the study group were each given a pre-prepared baked potato with the skin measured to 100g, with only 20 grams of carbohydrates, roughly enough to fit in one hand to incorporate as a snack or side with meals daily. The control group was given a similar potion of white rice with the same number of calories and carbohydrates. The study ran daily for 12 weeks, which is considered the minimum time needed to see changes in indices of glycemic control and cardiometabolic health. 

Study participants were permitted to add herbs or spices to the potatoes, or up to ½ tbsp of butter, but they were advised not to fry their potato. 

Key Takeaways and Recommendations 

A modest decrease in fasting blood glucose levels was present for study participants who ate potatoes. Study participants also showed improvements in body composition, waist circumference, and a decrease in resting heart rate. 

“The results from our study provide evidence that white potatoes can be healthfully incorporated in the diet of individuals with Type 2 diabetes when substituted for other foods with a high glycemic load, such as long-grain white rice,” Akhavan said. “Additionally, there were no harmful effects on measured health outcomes, and some cardiometabolic health benefits were shown, which aligned with what we expected to see. Therefore, diabetics should not shy away from potatoes.”

Akhavan says that just like all foods, moderation – and preparation methods – are key.  

“Potatoes are a very versatile food and can be eaten with most types of cuisines, but you want to make sure to incorporate them into a well-rounded diet,” she said. “For those tight on time, consider making a large batch of baked or roasted potatoes and meal prep to last you a while. I’m not against boiling potatoes, but you want to keep as much of the potassium from the skin as you can, and you lose some of that when you boil them.”

Making the Case for Potatoes

Potatoes are the richest source of dietary potassium in Western diets, and high potassium diets have been shown to prevent high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes development. Additionally, potato skins contain a certain type of fiber called "resistance starch," which have been shown to improve glucose control, lipid profiles, and satiety. Because of these added health benefits, Akhavan recommends eating potatoes with the skin. 

So, the next time you want to reach for a banana, she added, reach for that potato instead.

“A lot of people are shocked to learn that a potato has a higher level of potassium than a banana,” she said. “Believe it or not, a baked potato is one of the most satiating foods consumed within the western diet. And, when it is consumed baked, it increases our ability to feel fuller throughout the day.” 

Akhavan intends to expand the study in the coming months to include a larger and more diverse participant population, and incorporation of potatoes within a Mediterranean dietary pattern. She also plans to explore the role of potato consumption and its effects on dietary patterns and related health benefits.

UNLV professor of nutrition sciences Neda Akhavan

Credit

Becca Schwartz/UNLV

Method of Research

Randomized controlled/clinical trial

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Effects of White Potato Consumption on Measures of Cardiometabolic Health in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

 WORD OF THE DAY

The molecular shield: how tea plants combat drought through protein phosphorylation

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science

 

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Phenotype and proanthocyanidin content analysis of tri-site phosphorylated and dephosphorylated CsWD40 transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. 

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Credit: Horticulture Research

A pivotal study has discovered a protein phosphorylation mechanism that plays a critical role in the negative regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in tea plants (Camellia sinensis) during drought stress. This insight into the molecular response of tea plants to environmental stress could lead to the development of agricultural strategies to enhance crop resilience and quality preservation under water scarcity conditions.

Drought stress poses a significant challenge to agriculture, causing substantial yield losses in many crops. Tea plants, known for their rich flavonoid content which enhances both quality and health benefits, are particularly affected. Under drought conditions, the production of these valuable compounds declines, impacting the overall quality of tea. Addressing these issues requires a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate flavonoid biosynthesis during drought stress. Due to these problems, it is essential to undertake detailed research to uncover strategies that can mitigate the negative effects of drought on tea plants.

Researchers from Anhui Agricultural University have published a study (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae136) on May 5, 2024, in the journal Horticulture Research. The study investigates the phosphorylation of a WD40-repeat protein (CsWD40) and its role in regulating flavonoid biosynthesis in tea plants under drought stress. The findings provide new insights into the molecular responses of tea plants to environmental stress.

The study reveals that drought stress increases the expression of CsMPK4a, a mitogen-activated protein kinase, in tea leaves. CsMPK4a interacts with the WD40-repeat protein CsWD40, phosphorylating it at specific sites (Ser-216, Thr-221, and Ser-253). This phosphorylation disrupts CsWD40's interaction with key transcription factors responsible for flavonoid biosynthesis, leading to reduced flavonoid production. Experiments introducing dephosphorylated (CsWD403A) and phosphorylated (CsWD403D) variants of CsWD40 into Arabidopsis plants further confirmed this regulatory mechanism. Dephosphorylated CsWD40 enhanced flavonoid production, while phosphorylated CsWD40 significantly decreased it. Additionally, transient overexpression of these variants in tea leaves under stress conditions mirrored these results, indicating the phosphorylation state of CsWD40 plays a crucial role in modulating flavonoid biosynthesis. This detailed analysis provides new insights into how tea plants respond to drought at the molecular level, highlighting potential targets for improving stress tolerance.

Dr. Liping Gao, one of the corresponding authors, stated, "Our findings uncover a critical regulatory mechanism that affects flavonoid biosynthesis in tea plants under drought stress. Understanding this pathway opens up new possibilities for breeding drought-resistant tea varieties with optimized flavonoid content."

The discovery of the phosphorylation sites on CsWD40 provides potential targets for gene editing to develop tea cultivars with enhanced drought tolerance and stable flavonoid production. This research not only contributes to the fundamental understanding of stress responses in tea plants but also offers practical applications in improving tea quality and resilience to environmental stressors.

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References

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae136

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae136

Funding information

This work was financially supported by Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (2308085MC94, 202204c06020035), the joint funds of National Natural Science Foundation of China (U21A20232), and the Natural Science Foundation of China (32000366, 32372756), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFF1003103).

About Horticulture Research

Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2023. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.

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Journal

Horticulture Research

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae136 

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

The phosphorylation of a WD40-repeat protein negatively regulates flavonoid biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis under drought stress

 

Unlocking the genetic secrets of strawberries for superior fruit quality

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science

 

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Phenotypic variations across the three genetic groups of the panel.

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Credit: Horticulture Research

Strawberries, treasured for their flavor and health benefits, have been at the forefront of breeding programs targeting enhanced sensory and nutritional profiles. Despite advances, the intricate genetic makeup of these fruits has complicated efforts to improve them. This new study offers a breakthrough by identifying key genetic markers and candidate genes that control quality traits, enabling more precise and successful breeding strategies to cultivate strawberries that are juicier, more vibrant, and longer-lasting.

Strawberry breeding faces the challenge of balancing genetic diversity with the improvement of fruit quality traits like firmness and flavor. Traditional breeding methods have often struggled to meet these dual demands. Recent advancements in genetic research, particularly genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have provided new opportunities to explore and enhance these traits. Based on these challenges, there is a pressing need to conduct in-depth research on the genetic factors that influence fruit quality in strawberries, leveraging the rich genetic diversity available in European strawberry varieties.

Researchers from the University of Bordeaux, in collaboration with Invenio, have made significant strides in strawberry research. Their findings (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae137), published in the journal Horticulture Research on May 14, 2024, explore the genetic evolution of strawberry diversity and identify molecular markers for breeding programs, aiming to enhance the fruit's weight, firmness, composition, and appearance.

The study uncovered significant genetic markers linked to key fruit quality traits, such as fruit weight, firmness, and glossiness. Utilizing GWAS, the researchers identified 71 associations with 11 different quality traits, validating known markers and discovering new quantitative trait loci (QTL). Notably, three of the six selective sweeps identified are associated with glossiness and skin resistance—traits that enhance fruit appeal and shelf life. These findings demonstrate substantial improvements in breeding targets achieved across European and American cultivars. The study also highlighted regions of reduced genetic diversity due to selection pressure, underscoring the impact of breeding on genetic variation. This research emphasizes the value of untapped genetic resources in European strawberries, offering promising avenues for breeding programs to enhance fruit quality without compromising flavor and color.

Dr. Béatrice Denoyes, one of the lead researchers, stated, "This study offers a comprehensive view of strawberry genetic diversity and its impact on fruit quality. The identification of new genetic markers will significantly aid breeding programs focused on improving fruit traits that are important to both growers and consumers."

The findings from this study have substantial implications for strawberry breeding programs. By utilizing the newly identified genetic markers, breeders can more effectively select traits that enhance fruit quality, such as firmness and glossiness. This will not only improve the consumer experience but also reduce postharvest losses, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices.

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References

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae137

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae137

Funding information

The project was funded by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (REGINA project no. 67822110; AgirClim project No. 2018-1R20202); and European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (BreedingValue project No. 101000747; PRIMA-Partnership 2019–22 Med-Berry project).

About Horticulture Research

Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2023. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.

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Journal

Horticulture Research

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae137 

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Exploration of a European-centered strawberry diversity panel provides markers and candidate genes for the control of fruit quality traits