Genetic control of root vigour in tomato

该项目的目的是确定新的遗传位点和机制，用于培育增强番茄根系活力。这将是通过检查一个新的基因座控制根活力，这是在根中的碳水化合物分配的最新发现。这将被检查，以了解工作机制。它还将寻求确定其他基因座控制根系活力使用正向遗传学技术。这将利用测序和基因分型技术以及生物信息学分析。作物根系是育种计划的一个很好的重点，以提高品种的可持续性和适应力。根系是从土壤中获取养分和其他资源的机制。它们还可以锚住植物，固碳，并可以提供对土壤传播疾病的抵抗力。将有益的根系性状结合到生产最佳水果的品种中，将减少水和肥料的投入。它还可以减少对土壤熏蒸做法的需要，这可能对长期土壤健康有害。对于像番茄这样的新鲜蔬菜作物，根系性状的育种更加专业化，因为不同的接穗和砧木基因型被嫁接在一起，联合收割机结合了有用的芽和根性状。育种者根据根系活力直观地选择砧木基因型，然后通过杂交和基于DNA的标记选择联合收割机结合其他基本性状，如抗病性。如果根活力的遗传基础被理解，根活力的标记是可用的，这一过程可以简化，更有效。

The aim of the project is to identify novel genetic loci and mechanisms for use in breeding enhanced root vigour in tomato. This will be done by examining recent findings of a novel locus controlling root vigour which is related to carbohydrate partitioning in the roots. This will be examined to understand the mechanism at work. It will also look to identify other loci controlling root vigour using forward genetics techniques. This will make use of sequencing and genotyping technologies, as well as bioinformatics analysis. Crop root systems are a good focus for breeding programmes to improve sustainability and resilience of varieties. Root systems are the mechanism which retrieves nutrients and other resources from the soil. They also anchor the plant, sequester carbon and can provide resistance to soil borne diseases. Combining beneficial root traits into varieties that produce the best fruit produce will allow reduction in water and fertiliser input. It could also reduce the need for soil fumigation practices, which may be harmful to long term soil health. For fresh-market vegetable crops like the tomato, breeding for root traits is more specialized because different scion and rootstock genotypes are grafted together to combine useful shoot and root traits. Breeders select rootstock genotypes visually based on root vigour, and then combine other essential traits like disease resistance by crossing and selecting with DNA-based markers. If the genetic basis for root vigour was understood and markers for root vigour were available this process could be simplified and made much more efficient.