Identification of QTLs controlling harvest time and fruit skin color in Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai).
Using an F1 population from a cross between Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) cultivars 'Akiakari' and 'Taihaku', we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of seven fruit traits (harvest time, fruit skin color, flesh firmness, fruit weight, acid content, total soluble solids content, and preharvest fruit drop). The constructed simple sequence repeat-based genetic linkage map of 'Akiakari' consisted of 208 loci and spanned 799 cM; that of 'Taihaku' consisted of 275 loci and spanned 1039 cM. Out of significant QTLs, two QTLs for harvest time, one for fruit skin color, and one for flesh firmness were stably detected in two successive years. The QTLs for harvest time were located at the bottom of linkage group (LG) Tai3 (nearest marker: BGA35) and at the top of LG Tai15 (nearest markers: PPACS2 and MEST050), in good accordance with results of genome-wide association study. The PPACS2 gene, a member of the ACC synthase gene family, may control harvest time, preharvest fruit drop, and fruit storage potential. One major QTL associated with fruit skin color was identified at the top of LG 8. QTLs identified in this study would be useful for marker-assisted selection in Japanese pear breeding programs.
NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science , 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605 , Japan.
Toshiya
T
Yamamoto
NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science , 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605 , Japan.
Shingo
S
Terakami
NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science , 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605 , Japan.
Norio
N
Takada
NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science , 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605 , Japan.
Sogo
S
Nishio
NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science , 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605 , Japan.
Noriyuki
N
Onoue
NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science , 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605 , Japan.
Chikako
C
Nishitani
NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science , 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605 , Japan.
Miyuki
M
Kunihisa
College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University , 3-21-1 Chuou, Ami-machi, Ibaraki 300-0393 , Japan.
Eiichi
E
Inoue
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo , 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657 , Japan.
Hiroyoshi
H
Iwata
NARO Agricultural Research Center , 3-1-1 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8666 , Japan.
Takeshi
T
Hayashi
Tottori University , Koyamacho-minami, Tottori 680-8550 , Japan.
Akihiro
A
Itai
NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science , 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605 , Japan.
Toshihiro
T
Saito
Akiakari; SSR marker; Taihaku; fruit traits; genetic linkage map; quantitative trait locus