Genetics and functional genomics studies toward improvement in fruit ripening and harvesting in tomato

• Grant number: 22/12662-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Pant Physiology
• Agreement: Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
• Principal Investigator: Lázaro Eustaquio Pereira Peres
• Grantee: Lázaro Eustaquio Pereira Peres
• Principal researcher abroad: Ning WANG
• Institution abroad: University of Tsukuba, Japan
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the present study, we seek to understand two important development processes with application in tomato production. We will characterize new mutants and natural allelic variations that affect fruit ripening and abscission. The study will be carried out on the tomato cultivar Micro-Tom, a model system for tomato genetics. Both groups in Brazil and Japan have developed extensive collections of mutants, transgenic plants and natural genetic variation in Micro-Tom, as a single genetic background. This will allow for straightforward techniques such as double mutant analysis, global gene expression analysis and mapping-by-sequencing to determine genetic identity. This project will add to our understanding of two developmental processes that evolved for fruit dispersal and that are now fundamental to agriculture. The relevance for agriculture is based on the need to control abscission and ripening for mechanical harvesting and fruit storage. (AU)