Characterization of tomato genotypes that differ in their fruit shelf life by analysis of total pericarp protein patterns at two ripening stages

GUILLERMO RAUL PRATTA; VALLE, E. M.; ZORZOLI, R.; CARRILLO, N.; PICARDI, L. A.

Acta Horticulturae

International Society for Horticultural Science

Año: 2001 vol. 546 p. 483 - 487

0567-7572

Lycopersicon esculentum fruits vary in their shelf life among different varieties. In order to characterize the shelf life at the molecular level, total tomato pericarp protein at mature green and the physiological mature ripening stages were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The genotypes under study presented normal and altered ripening process: a standard cultivar Platense-type (P), two homozygous ripening mutants (nor, N and rin, R), two wild-type cerasiforme accessions LA1385 (C1) and LA1673 (C2), and the following hybrids (N x P), (N x R), (P x C2) and (N x C1). The protein patterns were characteristic for each genotype and in all cases they varied with the ripening stage of the fruits. Since such genetic and physiological differences were detected, the incorporation of wild materials in a tomatobreeding program would be an alternative for avoiding the detrimental pleiotropic effects of the mutants upon fruit color, taste and acidity.