The validation, characterisation and translation of outputs derived from network analysis and QTL mapping of tomato fruit quality traits (TomNET)

番茄果实品质性状网络分析和 QTL 定位输出的验证、表征和翻译 (TomNET)

• 批准号: BB/J016071/1
• 负责人: Paul Fraser
• 金额: $ 37.6万
• 依托单位: Royal Holloway University of London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2012 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FJ016071%2F1
• 关键词: validation; characterisation; translation; outputs; derived

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the most important fruit crop in the world by volume consumed, with annual production of 150 million metric tons. Tomatoes are high value products with an annual value in 2009 of around 32 billion US dollars covering both processed and fresh products. They are a major component of healthy diets and provide ready sources of vitamins A, C, E and K, minerals including K and Fe and the lipophilic antioxidant lycopene (the pigment responsible for the characteristic red colour of ripe tomato fruit). There is a wealth of scientific evidence that now exists to corroborate that the consumption of fruits and vegetables is beneficial to human health. These benefits have been attributed to the presence of health promoting phytochemicals or "bioactives" in the food matrix. The challenge, particularly, in Western societies, is to deliver to the consumer better tasting, more nutritious tomatoes and other fruit which have a prolonged shelf-life at a cost affordable to the majority of consumers. The most important quality traits in tomato are colour, texture, flavour and nutritional content. Texture can also impact on taste, the release of nutrients and perhaps most importantly shelf-life. In the UK it is estimated that 40% of the food waste is uneaten fruits and vegetables. In addition to its economic and societal role, tomato has become a well established scientific model for understanding the development and ripening of fleshy fruit bearing crops, with strong evidence that many of the gene networks controlling ripening have been conserved across different taxa. In fruit crops, the key controller of quality traits is the process of ripening. The aim of TomNET project is to deliver better quality tomato fruit. Our approach will integrate systems analysis and quantitative genetic studies to identify and modulate regulatory genes that allow precise control of fruit development and the ripening process. By harnessing tomato wild-species variation, we can deliver these scientific discoveries into commercial practice in collaboration with Syngenta; our industrial partner in this LINK project. The project will build on several important resources and findings. Firstly a regulatory network holistically describing the interaction of gene transcripts during fruit development and ripening. Using computational approaches putative regulators of the ripening process have been identified. We have shown that one of these regulators can improve tomato fruit colour. Simultaneously, flavour related compounds responsible for good tasting fruit products are increased. In this project we will use the gene networks to identify additional regulators of ripening that display the potential to alter key fruit quality traits. For the transcriptional activator termed high pigment-4 (HP4), which we have validated as an important modulator of ripening related traits, detail characterisation at multiple levels of regulation will be carried out to ascertain the underlying mechanisms by which the gene product can exert its effects and influence the ripening process. The other key foundation of this project is the identification of genes underlying a complex QTL for texture. Within the target region several interacting components have been identified. In the project the function and interaction between these components will be elucidated by using stable transgenic lines. Combining the enhanced colour and texture traits will also be attempted. Finally natural variation will be exploited to deliver these traits into commercial elite backgrounds thus translating science discovery through to commercial practice.

番茄 (Solanum lycopersicum) 是世界上消费量最重要的水果作物，年产量为 1.5 亿吨。西红柿是高价值产品，2009 年的年产值约为 320 亿美元，包括加工产品和新鲜产品。它们是健康饮食的主要组成部分，提供维生素 A、C、E 和 K、矿物质（包括 K 和 Fe）以及亲脂性抗氧化剂番茄红素（成熟番茄果实呈现特有红色的色素）。现在有大量的科学证据证实食用水果和蔬菜有益于人类健康。这些益处归因于食品基质中存在促进健康的植物化学物质或“生物活性物质”。尤其是在西方社会，面临的挑战是如何以大多数消费者可以承受的价格向消费者提供味道更好、营养更丰富、保质期更长的西红柿和其他水果。番茄最重要的品质特征是颜色、质地、风味和营养成分。质地也会影响味道、营养成分的释放，也许最重要的是影响保质期。在英国，据估计 40% 的食物垃圾是未食用的水果和蔬菜。除了其经济和社会作用外，番茄已成为了解肉质果类作物发育和成熟的成熟科学模型，有强有力的证据表明，许多控制成熟的基因网络在不同的分类群中得到了保守。在水果作物中，品质性状的关键控制者是成熟过程。 TomNET 项目的目标是提供更优质的番茄果实。我们的方法将整合系统分析和定量遗传学研究，以识别和调节调控基因，从而精确控制果实发育和成熟过程。通过利用番茄野生物种的变异，我们可以与先正达合作将这些科学发现转化为商业实践；我们在此 LINK 项目中的工业合作伙伴。该项目将建立在一些重要的资源和发现的基础上。首先是一个全面描述水果发育和成熟过程中基因转录本相互作用的调控网络。使用计算方法已经确定了成熟过程的假定调节因子。我们已经证明其中一种调节剂可以改善番茄果实的颜色。同时，与水果产品味道相关的风味相关化合物也增加了。在这个项目中，我们将利用基因网络来识别其他成熟调节因子，这些调节因子显示出改变关键水果品质性状的潜力。对于被称为高色素-4（HP4）的转录激活因子，我们已验证其是成熟相关性状的重要调节剂，我们将在多个调控水平上进行详细表征，以确定基因产物发挥其作用并影响成熟过程的潜在机制。该项目的另一个关键基础是鉴定纹理复杂 QTL 背后的基因。在目标区域内，已经确定了几个相互作用的成分。在该项目中，将通过使用稳定的转基因系来阐明这些成分之间的功能和相互作用。还将尝试结合增强的颜色和纹理特征。最后，将利用自然变异将这些特征带入商业精英背景，从而将科学发现转化为商业实践。

项目成果

A genome-wide metabolomic resource for tomato fruit from Solanum pennellii.

• DOI: 10.1038/srep03859
• 发表时间: 2014-01-24
• 期刊: Scientific reports
• 影响因子: 4.6
• 作者: Perez-Fons L;Wells T;Corol DI;Ward JL;Gerrish C;Beale MH;Seymour GB;Bramley PM;Fraser PD
• 通讯作者: Fraser PD