Molecular markers for kernel bitterness in almond

Publication Overview
TitleMolecular markers for kernel bitterness in almond
AuthorsSanchez-Perez R, Howad W, Garcia-Mas J, Arus P, Martinez-Gomez P, Dicenta F
TypeJournal Article
Journal NameTree Genetics and Genomes
Volume6
Issue2
Year2010
Page(s)237-245
CitationSanchez-Perez R, Howad W, Garcia-Mas J, Arus P, Martinez-Gomez P, Dicenta F. Molecular markers for kernel bitterness in almond. Tree Genetics and Genomes. 2010; 6(2):237-245.

Abstract

Upon crushing, amygdalin present in bitter almonds is hydrolysed to benzaldehyde, which gives a bitter flavour, and to cyanide, which is toxic. Bitterness is attributable to the recessive allele of the Sweet kernel (Sk/sk) gene and is selected against in breeding programmes. Almond has a long intergeneration period due to its long juvenile phase, so breeders must wait 3 or 4 years to evaluate fruit traits in the field. For this reason, it is important to develop molecular markers to distinguish between sweet and bitter genotypes. The Sk gene is known to map to linkage group five (G5) of the almond genome, but its function is still undefined. Candidate genes involved in the amygdalin pathway have been mapped, but none of them were located to G5. We have saturated G5 with additional Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) using the progeny from the cross “R1000” × “Desmayo Largueta” and found six SSRs (UDA-045, EPDCU2584, CPDCT028, BPPCT037, PceGA025, and CPDCT016) closely linked to the Sk locus. The genotypes of four of these SSRs flanking the Sk locus, in a number of parents and a few seedlings of the CEBAS-CSIC almond breeding programme, allowed us to estimate the haplotypes of the parents, identifying the marker alleles adequate for an early and highly efficient selection against bitter genotypes. This analysis has established the usefulness of SSRs for screening populations of fruit trees such as almond by an easy, polymerase chain reaction-based method.
Features
This publication contains information about 8 features:
Feature NameUniquenameType
amygdalin hydrolase activityqAH.TE-ch1QTL
glucosyltransferase activity traitqGT.TE-ch3QTL
glucosyltransferase activity traitqGT.TE-ch8.1QTL
glucosyltransferase activity traitqGT.TE-ch8.2QTL
kernel tasteqKTST.RD-ch5.2QTL
kernel tasteqKTST.RD-ch5.1QTL
kernel tasteqKTST.RD-ch5.3QTL
prunasin hydrolase activityqPHY.TE-ch1QTL
Featuremaps
This publication contains information about 2 maps:
Map Name
Almond-RD-F1
Prunus-TE-F2