Efficient development of new Japanese pear cultivars with high functions by genetic engineering methods

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Tottori University researchers succeeded to release two self-compatible cultivars, 'Akibae' and 'Zuishu', which were resistant to black spot disease and had high quality. Moreover they released an early maturing cultivar 'Shinju', which were also resistant to black spot disease and had high quality. These cultivars already have been registered, and are open to public. Especially the cultivar, 'Akibae' deserved high reputation and its cultivated area increases to 40ha in 2003. They crossed these cultivars with 'Kinchaku', which is resistant to pear scab to produce new cultivars with resistance to pear scab. Shelf life of Japanese pear fruit is correlated with maximum ethylene production. They succeeded to develop the gene diagnosis for storage ability in Japanese pear cultivars and strains by analysis of genes for ethylene biosynthetic pathway. This diagnosis makes it possible to release new cultivars with high shelf life. With regard to mechanisms of black spot disease, two candidate receptor proteins for AK toxin from Alternaria alternata were identified. A trial for the gene cloning of the AK receptor protein is in progress. Researchers of Tottori Horticultural Research Center developed the gene diagnosis for self-compatibility. This also makes it easy to find new cultivars without artificial pollination.