title: An integrative "omics" approach identifies new candidate genes to impact aroma volatiles in peach fruit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ever since the recent completion of the peach genome, the focus of genetic research in this area has turned to the identification of genes related to important traits, such as fruit aroma volatiles. Of the over 100 volatile compounds described in peach, lactones most likely have the strongest effect on fruit aroma, while esters, terpenoids, and aldehydes have minor, yet significant effects. The identification of key genes underlying the production of aroma compounds is of interest for any fruit-quality improvement strategy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Volatile (52 compounds) and gene expression (4348 genes) levels were profiled in peach fruit from a maturity time-course series belonging to two peach genotypes that showed considerable differences in maturation characteristics and postharvest ripening. This data set was analyzed by complementary correlation-based approaches to discover the genes related to the main aroma-contributing compounds: lactones, esters, and phenolic volatiles, among others. As a case study, one of the candidate genes was cloned and expressed in yeast to show specificity as an ω-6 Oleate desaturase, which may be involved in the production of a precursor of lactones/esters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our approach revealed a set of genes (an alcohol acyl transferase, fatty acid desaturases, transcription factors, protein kinases, cytochromes, etc.) that are highly associated with peach fruit volatiles, and which could prove useful in breeding or for biotechnological purposes.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, Valencia 46022, Spain. gsanchez@correo.inta.gov.ar
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venegas-Calerón
authors.forename: Joaquín J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monforte
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Badenes
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granell
mesh_terms: D001947:Breeding; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D005838:Genotype; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D027861:Prunus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; C040448:delta-12 fatty acid desaturase