Analysis of the genetic control of β-carotene and l-ascorbic acid accumulation in an orange-brownish wild cherry tomato accession

• Published in: Euphytica 2012-03, Vol.184 (2), p.251-263
• Main Authors: Adalid, Ana Maria, Roselló, Salvador, Valcárcel, Mercedes, Nuez, Fernando
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Breeding schemes. Varia; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Life Sciences; Lycopersicon esculentum; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Solanum
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1007/s10681-011-0584-x

An additive-dominance, additive × additive (ADAA) and genotype × environment interaction mix model was used to study the genetic control of β-carotene and l -ascorbic acid in six basic generations (P 1 , P 2 , F 1 , F 2 , BC 1 P 1 and BC 1 P 2 ) of tomato derived from the cross CDP8779 accession ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) × CDP4777 accession ( S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme ). The study was performed in two environments: (1) open field; (2) protected environment, consisting of hydroponic cultivation in a glasshouse. The results indicate that β-carotene accumulation was mainly additive (32.2% of the genetic component), with a small dominant component (4.2%) and an important additive × environment interaction contribution (63.6%). In target environments with moderate to high temperatures and no limiting radiation, this the expression additive × environment interaction could substantially enhance the β-carotene content. This trait showed also a high narrow-sense heritability ( h 2  = 0.62). Ascorbic acid accumulation was also mainly additive (61.7% of the genetic component), with a minor additive epistatic component (21.5%). This epistatic effect caused a negative heterosis that reduced the positive main additive effect. Nevertheless, in the described target environments, the additive × environment interaction contribution (16.8%) may enhance the ascorbic acid content and compensate for the negative heterosis effect. The total narrow-sense heritability of this trait can be considered useful ( h 2  = 0.52). In conclusion, the CDP4777 accession is a very interesting donor parent for the joint improvement of β-carotene (without diminishing lycopene content) and ascorbic acid content in commercial nutraceutical tomato breeding programmes; the F 1 hybrids derived from this accession showed nearly 450% of the commonly reported average β-carotene content and close to 130% of the ascorbic acid content of the female parent.