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QTLs for shelf life in lettuce co-locate with those for leaf biophysical properties but not with those for leaf developmental traits

QTLs for shelf life in lettuce co-locate with those for leaf biophysical properties but not with those for leaf developmental traits
QTLs for shelf life in lettuce co-locate with those for leaf biophysical properties but not with those for leaf developmental traits
Developmental and biophysical leaf characteristics that influence post-harvest shelf life in lettuce, an important leafy crop, have been examined. The traits were studied using 60 informative F9 recombinant inbreed lines (RILs) derived from a cross between cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Salinas) and wild lettuce (L. serriola acc. UC96US23). Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for shelf life co-located most closely with those for leaf biophysical properties such as plasticity, elasticity and breakstrength suggesting that these are appropriate targets for molecular breeding for improved shelf life. Significant correlations were found between shelf life with leaf size, leaf weight, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf stomatal index and epidermal cell number per leaf, indicating that these pre-harvest leaf development traits confer postharvest properties.

By studying the population in two contrasting environments in northern and southern Europe, the genotype by environment interaction effects of the QTL relevant to leaf development and shelf life were assessed. In total 107 QTL, distributed on all nine linkage groups, were detected from the 29 traits. Only five QTL were common in both environments. Several areas where many QTL co-located (hotspots) on the genome were identified, with relatively little overlap between developmental hotspots and those relating to shelf life. However, QTL for leaf biophysical properties (breakstrength, plasticity and elasticity) and cell area correlated well with shelf life, confirming that the ideal ideotype lettuce should have small cells with strong cell walls. The identification of QTL for leaf development, strength and longevity will lead to a better understanding of processability at a genetic and cellular level, and allow the improvement of salad leaf quality through marker assisted breeding.
biophysical, biomechanical properties, leaf development, lettuce, microbiology, post-harvest, QTLs, shelf life
0022-0957
1433-1449
Zhang, Fang Z.
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Wagstaff, Carol
2951ea00-83b1-44db-a014-2b3364189f07
Rae, Anne M.
59c24658-bfd8-44f0-b368-00ce449264fc
Sihota, Arinder K.
ff39c1e3-615b-4fa0-890c-5a6ce1450c94
Keevil, C. William
cb7de0a7-ce33-4cfa-af52-07f99e5650eb
Rothwell, Steve D.
bb161dcf-d9fc-4334-b04d-28d385e3925b
Clarkson, Graham J. J.
9f968125-ef43-46db-b855-e37781a0492d
Michelmore, Richard W.
5f7a43be-0c3b-4fb0-8d47-dc30f0c26d4b
Truco, Maria Jose
7a584f02-6360-426a-b530-957da09e544c
Dixon, Mark S.
9debc1f1-fae6-4ed4-a9b5-f080577c15fc
Taylor, Gail
Zhang, Fang Z.
bf9b4eaf-1def-4c65-bcf3-513096442999
Wagstaff, Carol
2951ea00-83b1-44db-a014-2b3364189f07
Rae, Anne M.
59c24658-bfd8-44f0-b368-00ce449264fc
Sihota, Arinder K.
ff39c1e3-615b-4fa0-890c-5a6ce1450c94
Keevil, C. William
cb7de0a7-ce33-4cfa-af52-07f99e5650eb
Rothwell, Steve D.
bb161dcf-d9fc-4334-b04d-28d385e3925b
Clarkson, Graham J. J.
9f968125-ef43-46db-b855-e37781a0492d
Michelmore, Richard W.
5f7a43be-0c3b-4fb0-8d47-dc30f0c26d4b
Truco, Maria Jose
7a584f02-6360-426a-b530-957da09e544c
Dixon, Mark S.
9debc1f1-fae6-4ed4-a9b5-f080577c15fc
Taylor, Gail

Zhang, Fang Z., Wagstaff, Carol, Rae, Anne M., Sihota, Arinder K., Keevil, C. William, Rothwell, Steve D., Clarkson, Graham J. J., Michelmore, Richard W., Truco, Maria Jose, Dixon, Mark S. and Taylor, Gail (2007) QTLs for shelf life in lettuce co-locate with those for leaf biophysical properties but not with those for leaf developmental traits. Journal of Experimental Botany, 58 (6), 1433-1449. (doi:10.1093/jxb/erm006). (PMID:17347132)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Developmental and biophysical leaf characteristics that influence post-harvest shelf life in lettuce, an important leafy crop, have been examined. The traits were studied using 60 informative F9 recombinant inbreed lines (RILs) derived from a cross between cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Salinas) and wild lettuce (L. serriola acc. UC96US23). Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for shelf life co-located most closely with those for leaf biophysical properties such as plasticity, elasticity and breakstrength suggesting that these are appropriate targets for molecular breeding for improved shelf life. Significant correlations were found between shelf life with leaf size, leaf weight, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf stomatal index and epidermal cell number per leaf, indicating that these pre-harvest leaf development traits confer postharvest properties.

By studying the population in two contrasting environments in northern and southern Europe, the genotype by environment interaction effects of the QTL relevant to leaf development and shelf life were assessed. In total 107 QTL, distributed on all nine linkage groups, were detected from the 29 traits. Only five QTL were common in both environments. Several areas where many QTL co-located (hotspots) on the genome were identified, with relatively little overlap between developmental hotspots and those relating to shelf life. However, QTL for leaf biophysical properties (breakstrength, plasticity and elasticity) and cell area correlated well with shelf life, confirming that the ideal ideotype lettuce should have small cells with strong cell walls. The identification of QTL for leaf development, strength and longevity will lead to a better understanding of processability at a genetic and cellular level, and allow the improvement of salad leaf quality through marker assisted breeding.

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More information

Published date: 5 March 2007
Additional Information: Research paper
Keywords: biophysical, biomechanical properties, leaf development, lettuce, microbiology, post-harvest, QTLs, shelf life

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 40509
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/40509
ISSN: 0022-0957
PURE UUID: fc75966b-7205-4f83-afe3-1256eeaabcab
ORCID for C. William Keevil: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1917-7706

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 02 Feb 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:24

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Contributors

Author: Fang Z. Zhang
Author: Carol Wagstaff
Author: Anne M. Rae
Author: Arinder K. Sihota
Author: Steve D. Rothwell
Author: Graham J. J. Clarkson
Author: Richard W. Michelmore
Author: Maria Jose Truco
Author: Mark S. Dixon
Author: Gail Taylor

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