Natural diversity of potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis>) invertases

Background  

Invertases are ubiquitous enzymes that irreversibly cleave sucrose into fructose and glucose. Plant invertases play important roles in carbohydrate metabolism, plant development, and biotic and abiotic stress responses. In potato (Solanum tuberosum), invertases are involved in 'cold-induced sweetening' of tubers, an adaptive response to cold stress, which negatively affects the quality of potato chips and French fries. Linkage and association studies have identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for tuber sugar content and chip quality that colocalize with three independent potato invertase loci, which together encode five invertase genes. The role of natural allelic variation of these genes in controlling the variation of tuber sugar content in different genotypes is unknown.     

DNA variation at the invertase locus invGE/GF is associated with tuber quality traits in populations of potato breeding clones

Starch and sugar content of potato tubers are quantitative traits, which are models for the candidate gene approach for identifying the molecular basis of quantitative trait loci (QTL) in noninbred plants. Starch and sugar content are also important for the quality of processed products such as potato chips and French fries. A high content of the reducing sugars glucose and fructose results in inferior chip quality. Tuber starch content affects nutritional quality. Functional and genetic models suggest that genes encoding invertases control, among other things, tuber sugar content. The invGE/GF locus on potato chromosome IX consists of duplicated invertase genes invGE and invGF and colocalizes with cold-sweetening QTL Sug9. DNA variation at invGE/GF was analyzed in 188 tetraploid potato cultivars, which have been assessed for chip quality and tuber starch content. Two closely correlated invertase alleles, invGE-f and invGF-d, were associated with better chip quality in three breeding populations. Allele invGF-b was associated with lower tuber starch content. The potato invertase gene invGE is orthologous to the tomato invertase gene Lin5, which is causal for the fruit-sugar-yield QTL Brix9-2-5, suggesting that natural variation of sugar yield in tomato fruits and sugar content of potato tubers is controlled by functional variants of orthologous invertase genes.     

Natural variation for carbohydrate content in Arabidopsis. Interaction with complex traits dissected by quantitative genetics

Besides being a metabolic fuel, carbohydrates play important roles in plant growth and development, in stress responses, and as signal molecules. We exploited natural variation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) to decipher the genetic architecture determining carbohydrate content. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) approach in the Bay-0 x Shahdara progeny grown in two contrasting nitrogen environments led to the identification of 39 QTLs for starch, glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents representing at least 14 distinct polymorphic loci. A major QTL for fructose content (FR3.4) and a QTL for starch content (ST3.4) were confirmed in heterogeneous inbred families. Several genes associated with carbon (C) metabolism colocalize with the identified QTL. QTLs for senescence-related traits, and for flowering time, water status, and nitrogen-related traits, previously detected with the same genetic material, colocalize with C-related QTLs. These colocalizations reflect the complex interactions of C metabolism with other physiological processes. QTL fine-mapping and cloning could thus lead soon to the identification of genes potentially involved in the control of different connected physiological processes.     

Genetic analysis of seed-soluble oligosaccharides in relation to seed storability of Arabidopsis

Seed oligosaccharides (OSs) and especially raffinose series OSs (RSOs) are hypothesized to play an important role in the acquisition of desiccation tolerance and consequently in seed storability. In the present work we analyzed the seed-soluble OS (sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose) content of several Arabidopsis accessions and thus identified the genotype Cape Verde Islands having a very low RSO content. By performing quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping in a recombinant inbred line population, we found one major QTL responsible for the practically monogenic segregation of seed stachyose content. This locus also affected the content of the two other OSs, sucrose, and raffinose. Two candidate genes encoding respectively for galactinol synthase and raffinose synthase were located within the genomic region around this major QTL. In addition, three smaller-effect QTL were identified, each one specifically affecting the content of an individual OS. Seed storability was analyzed in the same recombinant inbred line population by measuring viability (germination) under two different seed aging assays: after natural aging during 4 years of dry storage at room temperature and after artificial aging induced by a controlled deterioration test. Thus, four QTL responsible for the variation of this trait were mapped. Comparison of the QTL genetic positions showed that the genomic region containing the major OS locus did not significantly affect the seed storability. We concluded that in the studied material neither RSOs nor sucrose content had a specific effect on seed storability.     

Genome-wide QTL and bulked transcriptomic analysis reveals new candidate genes for the control of tuber carotenoid content in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Key message

Genome-wide QTL analysis of potato tuber carotenoid content was investigated in populations of Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja that segregate for flesh colour, revealing a novel major QTL on chromosome 9.

Abstract

The carotenoid content of edible plant storage organs is a key nutritional and quality trait. Although the structural genes that encode the biosynthetic enzymes are well characterised, much less is known about the factors that determine overall storage organ content. In this study, genome-wide QTL mapping, in concert with an efficient ‘genetical genomics’ analysis using bulked samples, has been employed to investigate the genetic architecture of potato tuber carotenoid content. Two diploid populations of Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja were genotyped (AFLP, SSR and DArT markers) and analysed for their tuber carotenoid content over two growing seasons. Common to both populations were QTL that explained relatively small proportions of the variation in constituent carotenoids and a major QTL on chromosome 3 explaining up to 71 % of the variation in carotenoid content. In one of the populations (01H15), a second major carotenoid QTL was identified on chromosome 9, explaining up to 20 % of the phenotypic variation. Whereas the major chromosome 3 QTL was likely to be due to an allele of a gene encoding β-carotene hydroxylase, no known carotenoid biosynthetic genes are located in the vicinity of the chromosome 9 QTL. A unique expression profiling strategy using phenotypically distinct bulks comprised individuals with similar carotenoid content provided further support for the QTL mapping to chromosome 9. This study shows the potential of using the potato genome sequence to link genetic maps to data arising from eQTL approaches to enhance the discovery of candidate genes underlying QTLs.     

Change in content of sugars and free amino acids in potato tubers under short-term storage at low temperature and the effect on acrylamide level after frying

Changes in the sugar and amino acid contents of potato tubers during short-term storage and the effect on the acrylamide level in chips after frying were investigated. The acrylamide content in chips began to increase after 3 days of storage at 2 degrees C in response to the increase of glucose and fructose contents in the tubers. There was strong correlation between the reducing sugar content and acrylamide level, R(2)=0.873 for fructose and R(2)=0.836 for glucose. The sucrose content had less correlation with the acrylamide content because of its decrease after 4 weeks of storage at 2 degrees C, while the reducing sugar in potato tubers and the acrylamide in chips continued to increase. The contents of the four amino acids, i.e., asparatic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid and glutamine, showed no significant correlation with the acrylamide level. These results suggest that the content of reducing sugars in potato tubers determined the degree of acrylamide formation in chips. The chip color, as evaluated by L* (lightness), was correlated well with the acrylamide content.     

Identification of QTLs Associated with Conversion of Sucrose to Hexose in Mature Fruit of Japanese Pear

Sweetness is the most important trait for fruit breeding and is fundamentally determined by both total and individual sugar contents. We analyzed the contents of sucrose, fructose, glucose, and sorbitol in mature fruit in an F₁ population derived from crossing modern Japanese pear cultivar ‘Akizuki’ and breeding line ‘373-55’. A genetic linkage map was constructed using simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). We identified two regions associated with individual sugar contents on linkage group (LG) 1 and LG 7. The percentages of the variance in sucrose, fructose, and glucose explained by the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were 26.6, 15.9, and 18.5%, respectively, for the region on LG 1, and 22.2, 20.0, and 9.5%, respectively, for the region on LG 7. In both regions, genotypes associated with increases in sucrose were associated with decreases in both fructose and glucose. The 1.5-LOD support intervals of the QTLs on LGs 1 and 7 include SSRs within the regions flanking acid invertase genes PPAIV3 and PPAIV1, respectively. Because acid invertase is a key enzyme in the conversion of sucrose to hexose, these are promising candidates for genes underlying those QTLs and controlling individual sugar contents. We also found one region on LG 11 that explained 21.4% of the variation in total sugar content but was not significantly associated with variation for individual sugars. The information obtained in this study will accelerate research and breeding programs to improve fruit sweetness.     

蔗糖调节拟南芥花青素的生物合成

为了探讨糖在花青素合成过程中的调节作用,采用蔗糖和其代谢糖（葡萄糖 和果糖）组合处理拟南芥幼苗.实验结果表明,60 mmol/L蔗糖处理显著提高拟南芥 幼苗的花青素、还原糖含量,并上调花青素合成相关基因（CHS, FLS-1, DFR, LDOX, BANYULS）的转录,对叶绿素含量和UGT78D2基因的转录无影响;20 mmol/L 葡萄糖+20 mmol/L果糖处理,对花青素、叶绿素和还原糖的含量无影响,对花青素 合成相关基因转录影响不一;20 mmol/L蔗糖+20 mmol/L葡萄糖+20 mmol/L果糖处 理后,花青素和还原糖含量介于前两个处理之间,也上调花青素合成相关基因的转 录;但和蔗糖处理组相比,上调UGT78D2基因转录,下调FLS-1基因转录.在不同处 理组之间,花青素含量变化和还原糖含量变化趋势相同,有可能糖在调节花青素 合成的同时也调节还原糖含量.因此,蔗糖既可以通过蔗糖特异信号途径,也可以 和其代谢糖通过其他途径共同调节拟南芥花青素的生物合成.     

Sucrose metabolism of perennial ryegrass in relation to cold acclimation

Sugar metabolism is one of the important factors involved in winter hardiness and since the discovery of sucrose biosynthesis, considerable advances have been made in understanding its regulation and crucial role. This investigation examined the changes in activities of sucrose metabolizing enzymes and sugar content during cold hardening of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Changes in acid invertase (AI), sucrose synthase (SS) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) along with all the three soluble sugars glucose, fructose and sucrose were measured in leaves and stem base tissue during cold acclimation. Although fructans were the predominant carbohydrate the changes in glucose, fructose and sucrose were significant. All the three soluble sugars in both leaf and stem tissues started to decrease from the first day and continued up to day 7 and thereafter started to increase until day 28. AI in the soluble fraction showed a higher activity than that in the cell wall bound fraction. In both the leaf and stem bases soluble AI activity increased during the first week and after that it started to decrease gradually. On the other hand both the SS and SPS increased gradually throughout the acclimation period. Sucrose content was negatively correlated with AI and positively correlated with SS and SPS accounting well for the relation between the substrate and enzyme activity. These results suggest that AI, SS and SPS in ryegrass are regulated by cold acclimation and play an important role in sugar accumulation and acquisition of freezing tolerance.     

套袋梨贮藏过程中糖代谢及相关酶活性变化特征

以‘翠冠’梨为材料,研究了套双层遮光纸袋梨果实贮藏过程中蔗糖、果糖、葡萄糖、山梨醇及糖代谢中酶活性的变化规律。结果表明,贮藏套袋梨果实中果糖、葡萄糖、山梨醇和蔗糖含量都低于未套袋对照;套袋梨果实中山梨醇脱氢酶活性在贮藏的前5d都低于对照,贮藏10d后活性均高于对照,且与山梨醇含量呈现极显著正相关;贮藏套袋梨果实中蔗糖磷酸合酶(SPS)及蔗糖合酶(SS)分解和合成方向活性都是前期低于对照,贮藏后期都高于对照,且蔗糖含量与蔗糖磷酸合酶和蔗糖合酶(分解方向)活性都呈显著正相关;贮藏的套袋梨果实和对照中的山梨醇含量与果糖含量均呈极显著负相关,蔗糖含量与葡萄糖含量呈极显著负相关,即在贮藏过程中山梨醇可能转化为果糖,而蔗糖则转化成葡萄糖。     

甜高粱茎秆不同节间糖分累积与相关酶活性的变化

为了进一步了解甜高粱茎秆糖分代谢的规律,利用高效液相色谱等方法测定了考利、拉马达和MN-2747等3个甜高粱品种成熟期6个节间果糖、葡萄糖和蔗糖含量以及中性转化酶(NI)、可溶性酸性转化酶(SAI)、蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)和蔗糖合成酶(SS)的酶活性,并对其变化规律和相关性进行了分析。结果表明:不同品种间,果糖、葡萄糖和蔗糖含量变化范围较大,分别为2.32～4.34mg/g、2.30～4.14mg/g和35.92～95.92mg/g。随着节间的变化,3个品种果糖和葡萄糖均呈现"U"型变化趋势,而蔗糖无明显的变化规律,只是略有增高的趋势。3个品种成熟期茎秆中NI、SAI、SPS和SS酶活性普遍较低,随着节间的提高均呈现降低的趋势。节间蔗糖含量与SAI酶活性呈显著负相关(R=-0.71,P0.01),与NI、SPS和SS酶活性无明显相关性。SAI可能为甜高粱茎秆糖分代谢的关键调控酶。     

Hexose metabolism in discs excised from developing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers

Metabolism of radiolabelled hexoses by discs excised from developing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers was been investigated in the presence of acid invertase to prevent accumulation of labelled sucrose in the bathing medium (Viola, 1996, Planta 198: 179–185). When the discs were incubated with either [U-¹⁴C]glucose or [U-¹⁴C]fructose without unlabelled hexoses, the unidirectional rate of sucrose synthesis was insignificant compared with that of sucrose breakdown. The inclusion of unlabelled fructose in the medium induced a dramatic increase in the unidirectional rate of sucroses synthesis in the tuber discs. Indeed, the decline in the sucrose content observed when discs were incubated without exogenous sugars could be completely prevented by including 300 mM fructose in the bathing medium. On the other hand, the inclusion of unlabelled glucose in the medium did not significantly affect the relative incorporation of [U-¹⁴C]glucose to starch, sucrose or glycolytic products. Substantial differences in the intramolecular distribution of ¹³C enrichment in the hexosyl moieties of sucrose were observed when the discs were incubated with either [2-¹³C]fructose or [2-¹³C]glucose. The pattern of ¹³C enrichment distribution in sucrose suggested that incoming glucose was converted into sucrose via the sucrose-phosphate synthase pathway whilst fructose was incorporated directly into sucrose via sucrose synthase. Quantitative estimations of metabolic fluxes in vivo in the discs were also provided. The apparent maximal rate of glucose phosphorylation was close to the extractable maximum catalytic activity of glucokinase. On the other hand, the apparent maximal rate of fructose phosphorylation was much lower than the maximum catalytic activity of fructokinase, suggesting that the activity of the enzyme (unlike that of glucokinase) was regulated in vivo. Although in the discs incubated with or without fructose the rates of starch synthesis or glycolysis were similar, the relative partitioning of metabolic intermediates into sucrose was much higher in discs incubated with fructose (0.6% and 32.6%, respectively). It is hypothesised that the equilibrium of the reaction catalysed by sucrose synthase in vivo is affected in discs incubated with fructose as a result of the accumulation of the sugar in the tissue. This results in the onset of sucrose cycling. Incubation with glucose enhanced all metabolic fluxes. In particular, the net rate of starch synthesis increased from 2.0 mol · hexose · g FW^–1 · h^–1 in the absence of exogenous glucose to 3.7 mol · hexose · g FW^–1 · h^–1 in the presence of 300 mM glucose. These data are taken as an indication that the regulation of fructokinase in vivo may represent a limiting factor in the utilisation of sucrose for biosynthetic processes in developing potato tubers.Abbreviations ADPGlc adenosine 5-diphosphoglucose - Glc6P glucose-6-phosphate - hexose-P hexose phosphate - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - UDPGlc uridine 5-diphosphoglucose Many thanks to L. Sommerville for skillfull assistance and to J. Crawford and J. Liu for useful discussions on flux analysis. The research was funded by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department.     

Cold hardening of raspberry plants in vitro is enhanced by increasing sucrose in the culture medium

The influence of exogenously applied sucrose on cold hardening of raspberry ( Rubus idaeus L.) in vitro was examined. Raspberry plants (cv. Preussen) were cultured on Murashige-Skoog (MS) media with different levels (1, 3, 5 and 7%) of sucrose and subjected to low-temperature acclimation (3/−3°C day/night temperature, 8-h photoperiod) for 14 days. Cold hardiness (LT₅₀ in controlled freezing), shoot moisture content, osmolality and the amounts of sucrose, glucose and fructose were determined. Exogenously applied sucrose was taken up by plants, but the uptake corresponded to less than 10% of total sugar reserves in the culture. Cold hardiness was primarily affected by acclimation treatment, but sucrose increased cold hardiness of nonacclimated plants and significantly enhanced the effect of acclimation treatment, 5% sucrose in the culture medium being optimal for cold hardening. LT₅₀ values ranged between −4.1 and −7.1°C for nonacclimated, and between −14.2 and −20.7°C for cold-acclimated shoots. Shoot moisture content was inversely related to medium sucrose level and declined only slightly during cold acclimation. After cold acclimation, plant osmolality predicted hardiness better than shoot moisture content. Plant osmolality and sugar content were increased by increasing the medium sucrose level and, to a greater extent, by cold acclimation. Sucrose, glucose and fructose accumulated during hardening. Sucrose was the predominant sugar, and the rate of sucrose accumulation during cold acclimation was independent of the medium sucrose level or the initial plant sucrose content. A close correlation between cold hardiness and total sugars, sucrose, glucose and fructose was established. These results suggest that sugars have more than a purely osmotic effect in protecting acclimated raspberry plants from cold.     

A potato molecular-function map for carbohydrate metabolism and transport

Molecular-linkage maps based on functional gene markers (molecular-function maps) are the prerequisite for a candidate-gene approach to identify genes responsible for quantitative traits at the molecular level. Genetic linkage between a quantitative trait locus (QTL) and a candidate-gene locus is observed when there is a causal relationship between alleles of the candidate gene and the QTL effect. Functional gene markers can also be used for marker-assisted selection and as anchors for structural and functional comparisons between distantly related plant species sharing the same metabolic pathways. A first molecular-function map with 85 loci was constructed in potato based on 69 genes. Priority was given to genes operating in carbohydrate metabolism and transport. Public databases were searched for genes of interest from potato, tomato, or other plant species. DNA sequence information was used to develop PCR-based marker assays that allowed the localization of corresponding potato genes on existing RFLP linkage maps. Comparing the molecular-function map for genes operating in carbohydrate metabolism and transport with a QTL map for tuber starch content indicates a number of putative candidate genes for this important agronomic trait. Received: 19 March 2000 / Accepted: 16 May 2000     

Effect of sink isolation on sugar uptake and starch synthesis by potato-tuber storage parenchyma

Import into potato (Solarium tuberosum L. cv. Record) tubers was terminated by removing the sink at its connection with the stolon. The ability of discs of storage tissue from the excised tubers to take up exogenous sugars and convert them to starch was compared with that of discs from untreated tubers from the same plant population. In rapidly-growing control tubers, glucose and fructose were taken up to a greater extent than sucrose, 77% of the glucose being converted to starch within 3 h (compared with 64% and 27% for fructose and sucrose, respectively). These values fell as the tubers aged but the ranking (glucose > fructose > sucrose) was maintained, emphasising a severe rate-limiting step following the import of sucrose into the growing tuber. Sink isolation had little effect on the ability of the storage cells to take up exogenous sucrose across the plasmalemma for up to 7 d after sink isolation. However, the ability of the same cells to convert the sucrose to starch was severely inhibited within 24 h, as was the sensitivity of starch synthesis to turgor. In the case of glucose, sink isolation inhibited both the uptake and the conversion to starch, the latter being inhibited to a greater degree. A detailed metabolic study of tubers 7 d after excision showed that, with sucrose as substrate, 94% of the radioactivity in the soluble sugar pool was recovered in sucrose following sink isolation (92% in control tubers). However, with glucose as substrate, 80% of the radioactivity was recovered as sucrose following tuber excision (28% in control tubers), providing evidence that sucrose synthesis acts as a major alternative carbon sink when starch synthesis is inhibited. In the same tubers, sucrose-synthase activity decreased by 70% following sink isolation, compared with a 45% reduction in ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. Activities of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, starch phosphorylase, starch synthase nd both PPi- and ATP-dependent phosphofructokinases remained unchanged. Acid-invertase activity increased fivefold.     

Impact of soluble sugar concentrations on the acquisition of freezing tolerance in accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana with contrasting cold adaptation – evidence for a role of raffinose in cold acclimation

In the present study the cold acclimation potential of two accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana was investigated. Significant variation was found for basic tolerance as well as the capacity to acclimate to freezing temperatures. During cold acclimation, levels of soluble sugars increased in both genotypes, but raffinose accumulation discriminated the more tolerant accession Col‐0 from C24. Concentrations of other compatible solutes such as proline and glutamine were also higher in cold‐acclimated Col‐0 than C24 plants. Changes of invertase activity during cold exposure corresponded to changes in sucrose and fructose, but not glucose concentrations and were consistent with an initial chilling response and a later decline in hexose metabolization. When vacuolar invertase was suppressed by siRNA expression, reduced sucrolytic activity resulted in elevated leaf sucrose concentration, whereas the fructose content was strongly reduced. This led to elevated freezing tolerance in the cold‐tolerant genotype Col‐0, but not in C24. The most pronounced metabolic changes in invertase‐inhibited Col‐0 plants occurred for proline and glutamine concentrations, indicating indirect metabolic effects of altered sugar concentrations.     

Potential Role of Pyrophosphate:Fructose 6-Phosphate Phosphotransferase in Carbohydrate Metabolism of Cold Stored Tubers of Solanum tuberosum cv Bintje

To gain a better understanding of the mechanism of cold induced sweetening, sugar accumulation in potato, Solanum tuberosum cv Bintje, was compared to the maximum activity of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi):fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.90) and the concentration of two regulatory metabolites. Mature tubers accumulated reducing sugars and sucrose at an almost linear rate of 13.4 and 5.2 micromole per day per gram dry weight at 2°C and 4.5 and 1.3 micromole per day per gram dry weight, respectively, at 4°C. During storage at 8°C sugar accumulation was nil. Sugar accumulation was preceded by a lag phase of about 4 days. The accumulation of reducing sugars persisted for at least 4 weeks, whereas sucrose accumulation declined after 2 weeks of storage. The ratio of glucose:fructose changed concomitantly with sugar increase from 65:35 to equimolarity. The maximum activity of PPi:fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase was 2.51 and 2.25 units per gram dry weight during storage at 2 and 8°C, respectively. The temperature coefficient of this enzyme from potatoes kept at 2 or 8°C was 2.12 and 2.48, respectively. The endogenous concentration of fructose 2,6-biphosphate increased from 0.15 to 1 nanomole per gram dry weight during storage at 2 and 4°C but remained the same throughout storage at 8°C. After exposure to 2°C an initial increase in the concentration of PPi was observed from 4.0 to 5.6 nanomoles per gram dry weight. Pyrophosphate concentration did not change during storage at 4°C but decreased slightly at 8°C. All observed changes became annulled after transfer of cold stored tubers to 18°C. These data strongly indicate that PPi:fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase can be fully operational in cold stored potato tubers and the lack of increase in PPi concentration supports the functioning of this enzyme during sugar accumulation.     

套袋对梨果实发育过程中糖组分及其相关酶活性的影响

以翠冠和黄金梨为试材,测定套袋和未套袋(对照)梨果实发育时期果实中蔗糖、葡萄糖、果糖和山梨醇含量以及蔗糖代谢相关酶酸性转化酶(AI)、中性转化酶(NI)、蔗糖合成酶(SS)和蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)的活性,并对果实中糖组分积累与酶活性的关系进行了分析.结果表明:(1)两梨品种套袋果实在发育过程中蔗糖、葡萄糖、果糖、山梨醇和糖代谢相关酶活性变化趋势与对照基本一致,套袋果实糖含量均低于对照但差异不显著,而各相关酶活性在两类果实间差异表现各异.(2)在梨果实发育早期,果实中以分解酶类为主,糖分积累低;发育后期以合成酶类为主,糖分积累多.(3)两品种套袋和对照果实AI活性与葡萄糖含量均呈显著或极显著正相关,SS合成方向活性与蔗糖含量均为极显著正相关,且翠冠对照果SPS活性与蔗糖含量呈极显著正相关.可见,套袋通过提高果实发育早期转化酶(Inv)活性,降低果实后期蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)、蔗糖合成酶(SS)的活性来影响糖分积累,从而影响梨果品质.     

Potential for improvement by selection for reducing sugar content after cold storage for three potato populations

The objectives of this study were to examine the expected response to selection for reducing-sugar content after cold storage in three hybrid populations, to determine whether these populations included clones low in reducing sugars, and to investigate the effectiveness of indirect selection for chip colour based on selection of sugar content after cold storage. The three hybrid populations included: a random sample of 39 clones of Population 1, which was derived from crossing ND860-2 (a clone low in reducing sugars) with F58089 (a clone intermediate in reducing sugars); 40 clones of Population 2, which was obtained from crossing ND860-2 with Russette (a clone high in reducing sugars); and 40 clones of Population 3, which was derived from crossing Russette with F58089. Sugar content and chip colour were assessed in tubers stored for 2 months at 4 °C at Cambridge, Ontario, and at 3 °C at Benton Ridge, New Brunswick. Population 1 had a slightly greater predicted response to selection for reduction in glucose and total reducing sugars than the other two populations. This could be attributed to higher heritability estimates for Population 1, which was a reflection of smaller clone × environment interaction mean squares. The greater potential advance by selection for fructose, glucose, and total reducing sugars, was a direct consequence of its lower means for these traits. Low reducing-sugar clones were found in all three populations, indicating their potential use for the selection of low reducing sugars. Populations 2 and 3, however, would require stronger selection pressures and, therefore, large population sizes. Expected correlated responses for chip colour by selection for fructose and glucose were similar to, and sometimes exceeded, the expected direct responses in all three populations. Indirect responses for chip colour by selection for sucrose, however, were lower than direct selection responses. These results indicate that indirect selection for chip colour, by selection for either fructose or glucose content after cold storage, is as effective as direct selection for chip colour.