1,721,016 research outputs found
Molecular-assisted breeding
No full textThe steadily increasing world population and the concurrent reduction in cultivated lands are two major threats to food security, especially in the underdeveloped countries. Among the many strategies that can mitigate this situation modern biotechnologies play a central role. Many tools are available to scientists to face the challenges of increased production needs and sustainable agriculture. Among these, genetic modification and molecular breeding appear to be the most promising. Both of these approaches require the combined use of technologies such as genome sequencing, genotyping and phenotyping and large-scale data analysis and mining to determine genes and functions amenable to manipulation in the target species. Molecular markers, used in both target gene studies and assisted breeding, represent a powerful tool. This chapter deals with their nature and applications, and also describes some case studies where their use in marker-assisted selection has positively affected some target crop species
Comparative large-scale gene expression analysis of grape cultivars grown in Oltrepo area in Northern Italy
No full textThis research is part of a larger project (acronym: PIDICEUVE) for the creation of an analytical platform aimed at the integrated study of ripening in grapevine using both molecular and biochemical approaches. Five different cultivars widely cultivated in northern Italy, including four red-skinned cultivars ('Croatina', 'Barbera', 'Pinot noir', and 'Pinot gris') and one white-skinned cultivar ('Riesling italico'), have been compared during the ongoing of ripening from veraison until full maturation. Gene expression analysis has been performed using the Affymetrix GeneChip (R) technology. An example of multi-varietal comparison is reported and preliminary results are discussed. Three of the 334 transcripts in common between 'Barbera', 'Pinot gris' and 'Pinot noir' cultivars showed different trends comparing the earliest, the intermediate, and the latest stages of ripening. They code for a putative type I polyketide synthase, a major allergen-like protein and a heat shock-like protein
The use of AFLP markers for cultivar identification in apricot
No full textAmplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) molecular markers
were employed for the fingerprinting of 118 accessions of apricot,
including cultivated varieties and related apricot species. Five primer
combinations were tested and 165 polymorphic bands produced which
could uniquely differentiate all accessions under investigation. Primer
combinations were rated according to the multiplex ratio, the
polymorphic index content and the discrimination power parameters
and superior combinations were identified. AFLP markers were used
in cluster analysis carried out with the UPGMA and the neighbourjoining
methods and parsimony analysis. Four groups of similar
accessions were identified: (i) those from the Mediterranean basin,
(ii) from China, (iii) from continental Europe and (iv) mixed Europe–
North America accessions. In the principal component analysis the
first three components accounted for 17% of the total variability
existing among accessions. Because the most important regions where
apricot is cultivated in the world were represented in the analysis, with
a large number of varieties, it was possible to discuss the data in the
light of current phylogenetic hypotheses on the origin and evolution of
the species
An online database for apricot genetics
No full textA relational database is described which collects information on apricot genetics structured in different tables. Crosses, individuals, accessions and genealogies are reported describing more than twenty years of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) breeding. Phenotypic descriptors and molecular marker data are included to cross reference subgroups of individual
PIDICEUVE: a project for comparative large-scale gene expression analysis of grape cultivars grown in the Oltrepo area in Northern Italy
No full textIdentification and characterization of transcripts differentially expressed during apricot fruit ripening
No full textIn this work we report preliminary results of a project aimed at the identification and cloning of genes differentially expressed during the ongoing of ripening in the apricot fruit. The application of the cDNA-AFLP technique to transcript profiling is reported as well as the cloning of 125 fragments representing genes showing differential expression levels. Among them, a xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET) gene was isolated and partially characterized
Identification and characterization of transcripts differentially expressed during development of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) fruits
No full textThe application of the complementary DNA (cDNA)-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique to clone transcripts differentially expressed during fruit development and ripening is reported. Using 34 different primer combinations, 265 cDNA-AFLP bands were found differentially expressed in six fruit developmental stages, with leaf and developing seed as controls. One hundred twenty-five bands were cloned and sequenced and database search allowed to identify genes involved in cell wall, sugar, lipid, organic acids, and protein metabolism, as well as genes participating in hormonal signaling and in signal transduction (51 sequences, 41% of total). Genomic and expression analyses for a group of genes as well as phylogenetic investigations were carried out. cDNA-AFLP profiles have been also compared to the corresponding Northern hybridization data. Several genes are described for the first time in apricot or in other Prunus species. They establish the basis for further investigation of the ripening process in stone fruits
Characterization of local olive (Olea europaea l.) accessions by oil composition, morphological and molecular markers methods
Full text linkOlive accessions collected in Lake Garda, one of the northernmost olive growing districts in the world, were characterised by a combination of morphological traits, chemical analysis of oils and AFLP-DNA markers. Among the more relevant accessions, other than the very well-known cultivars ‘Casaliva’, ‘Frantoio’, ‘Leccino’ and ‘Pendolino’, the local ‘Baia’, ‘Mitria’ and ‘Regina’ should be regarded as interesting for both horticultural and oil quality traits
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