ICOB: Comparative genomics for a regulatory model of evolutionarily conserved ripening control mechanisms in diverse species

水果是人类饮食的重要组成部分，也是全球粮食安全的重要组成部分。水果是维生素、矿物质、碳水化合物和纤维的重要贡献者，但目前水果和蔬菜的摄入量远远低于饮食指南。水果消费不足的部分原因是实际生产、储存和保质期限制了水果的价格。此外，风味、外观和香气品质下降，往往归因于早收和未成熟(现代供应链中农产品生存所必需的)，降低了消费者对水果和水果产品的兴趣。更好地了解成熟的遗传控制以及相关的营养、风味和质量特性，将为种植者、育种者和种子公司提供选择更高质量果树的工具。最近，由于番茄的生命周期短，许多成熟控制过程已经被解决，这为在最大限度地减少产品损失的同时提高果实质量提供了策略。该项目的主要目标是调查番茄的发现在多大程度上适用于其他水果作物，从而为作物改良提供途径。我们之所以选择甜瓜和香蕉作为研究对象，是因为它们的全球消费量和经济价值，而且它们代表了一系列成熟机制和遗传多样性，将特定的成熟和水果质量控制成分与更一般的成熟和水果质量控制成分区分开来。在这些物种中保存的基因和遗传过程可能与大多数其他果树作物相同，并将为水果质量和货架期改进提供实用的选择目标。作为科学培训和合作的一部分，该项目还将在美国和以色列之间提供学生和博士后研究员的国际交流。

Fruit represent a significant portion of human diets and a major constituent of global food security. Fruit are significant contributors of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fiber, yet present day fruit and vegetable intake is well below dietary guidelines. Inadequate fruit consumption is due partly to practical production, storage and shelf-life constraints limiting fruit availability at affordable prices. In addition, reduced flavor, appearance and aroma qualities, often attributed to early harvest and incomplete ripening (necessary for produce survival through modern supply chains), decreases consumer interest in fruit and fruit products. A better understanding of the genetic control of ripening and associated nutrient, flavor and quality characteristics, will provide growers, breeders and seed companies with tools for selection of higher quality fruit crops. Recently numerous ripening control processes have been resolved in tomato due to its short life cycle, providing insight into strategies for improving fruit quality while minimizing product loss. The primary objective of this project is to investigate the extent to which findings in tomato hold true for additional fruit crops, thus providing paths toward crop improvement. We have selected melon and banana as research targets due to their global consumption and economic value, and because they represent a range of ripening mechanisms and genetic diversity that will distinguish specific from more general ripening and fruit quality control components. Genes and genetic processes conserved among these species are likely to be common to most other fruit crops and will provide practical selection targets for fruit quality and shelf-life improvement. This project will also provide international exchange of students and postdoctoral fellows between the US and Israel as part of the scientific training and collaboration.