Pericarp total protein profiles as molecular markers of tomato fruit quality traits in two segregating populations

RODRIGUEZ, G.R.; PEREIRA DA COSTA, J.; TOMAT, D.D.; GUILLERMO RAUL PRATTA; ZORZOLI, R.; PICARDI, L.A.

SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2011 vol. 130 p. 60 - 66

0304-4238

The tomato fruit quality shows biochemical and physiological changes that occur during the ripening process. Although, the pericarp total protein profiles are less polymorphic than DNA-based markers the polymorphism in those could be directly associated with fruit quality traits. The aim of this work was to identify associations between polymorphic polypeptides from fruit pericarp at two ripening stages and fruit quality traits evaluated in two segregating populations of tomato. A cross between a normal ripening cultivar of Solanum lycopersicum (C, Caimanta) and a genotype carrying the non ripening gene (N) as well as a cross between Caimanta and a cherry type tomato of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (Ce) showed genetic variance for several fruit quality traits such as fruit shape, solids soluble content, acidity, color and fruit shelf life. The quantitative variations observed at phenotypic level had correspondence with the polymorphism detected in the protein profiles. Indeed, the polymophic polypeptides associated with quality fruit traits and fruit shelf life would be useful to assist tomato breeding programs as protein molecular markers.