Hormonal alternations in tomato mutant ovate (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv Micro-Tom) and their impact on morphology, fruit quality, productivity and parthenocarpy

Author(s)

João Pedro Bernardes Faria

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-06-04

Examining board members

Lazaro Eustaquio Pereira Peres; Fabio Tebaldi Silveira Nogueira; Ivan Sestari

• Advisor: Lazaro Eustaquio Pereira Peres

Abstract

The fruits of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) present a high phenotypic diversity, most of which can be attributed to mutations in five genes: SUN (SUN), OVATE (O), LOCULE NUMBER (LC), FRUIT SHAPE 8.1 (FS8.1) and FASCIATED (FAS). Whereas mutations in LC, O and FAS alter fruit locule number, mutations in FS8.1, SUN and O result in elongated fruits. The latter is the focus of the present work. ovate is a biologically and agronomically relevant mutation, however, the exact effect of the new class of regulatory gene it represents is unknown. The drastic alteration in fruit shape produced by the mutation can influence consumer preference, thus rendering it agronomically important. Biologically, a thorough characterization of its gene function would result in deeper understanding of fruit formation. Crosses to the marker lines DR5::GUS and ARR5::GUS showed that ovate alters the response pattern of auxin and cytokinin, respectively, during fruit development. Furthermore, studies are described showing its effect on total soluble solids content, yield, shelf life, dry mass rate, seed weight and parthenocarpy. The results contribute not only to a better understanding of the effect of the new class of regulatory genes encoded by OVATE, but also have important agronomic implications, given that the ovate mutation has been used in the obtention of \'grape/plum\' tomato varieties and hybrids. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/06297-2 - Hormonal alternations in tomato mutant ovate (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv Micro-Tom) and their impact on morphology, fruit quality, productivity and parthenocarpy
• Grantee: João Pedro Bernardes Faria
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master