Development of Ty1-copia retrotransposon-based SSAP molecular markers for the study of genetic diversity in peach

Sequence-specific amplified polymorphism (SSAP) technology is a novel, anchored PCR approach derived from AFLP, which amplifies the region between a transposon insertion and an adjacent restriction site and have higher levels of polymorphism. In the current study, we developed 16 SSAP markers based on the long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences of Ty1-copia retrotransposons in the peach and used them for DNA profiling of 52 individual peaches: 44 peach cultivars and 8 ornamental peaches. These primer combinations produced a total of 1,553 fragments and 1,517 polymorphic bands with a polymorphism percentage of 97.7%. Furthermore, the Shannon's information index of each primer combination ranged from 0.1593 to 0.4456. Neighbor-joining analyses revealed two main genetic clusters, corresponding to the fruit flesh types: (A-1) MF (melting flesh) with clingstone and ornamental peaches; (A-2) MF with freestone and NMF (non-melting flesh) with clingstone. Finally, cluster analyses revealed that all ornamental peaches are closely related to the MF with clingstone peach cultivars. The application of these primer combinations identified using SSAP will facilitate future cultivar identification and germplasm management in peaches.     

Dormancy in peach (Prunus persica L.) flower buds

Morphological studies were carried out with peach flower buds collected monthly in 1989 and 1990, from two months before leaf fall (7 March) until two to three weeks before bloom (7/8 August). Chilled (2–4°C for 30 days) and unchilled buds were exposed to 20 to 25°C, 100% RH and continuous light. Gibberellin A₃ (3 ng or 30 ng) was applied to some of the non-chilled cuttings at three days intervals. Then, 12, 19, and 26 days after they were planted, the buds were sampled and processed for histological studies. Cultured flower buds (chilled or unchilled) had accelerated anther and gynoecium morphogenesis after 12 days under controlled conditions, compared to buds processed immediately after collection from the field. Chilling treatment augmented the bud culture effect, while Gibberellin A₃ applications to the excised buds retarded bud morphogenesis to a stage comparable to that of buds collected directly from the field. This, suggests that the comparatively high levels of Gibberellin A_1/3 we previously found in mid winter [15, 18] could be at least one of the factors that controls floral bud dormancy by retarding anther and gynoecium development.     

L'epoca Della Differenziazione Delle Gemme Fiorali Nell'olivo

Abstract

Calcium, as in general for all plants, is very important for fruit trees and a tight correlation between leaf content and cropping efficiency has been found.

The annual removal of calcium oxide of an orchard has been estimated in kg per hectare: pear 200, apple 180, peach 150, grape 60–130, olive 35–70, kiwi 55–60.

The rootstock affects the calcium uptake from the soil and content of the scion; frequently a higher calcium content is found in trees grafted an dwarfing rootstocks as pear on quince, apple on M9 and M26, peach on Damas.

By the horticultural point of view, calcium is responsible of two main problems: chlorosis due to high active Ca content in the soil and bitter pit, on the apposite, due to a low Ca level in the fruits.

From soil and leaf studies it seems clear that lime-induced Fe chlorosis results from two conditions: a) slow availability of Fe in the soil, and b) immobilization of Fe in the tree in forms that are not available for chlorophyll formation.

Breeding tolerant rootstocks has been the practical solution of chlorosis for most of the susceptible species.

Bitter pit is a physiological disorder of apple fruits, sometime already evident before picking, more frequently after harvesting, during the storage.

The prevention of the disorder is, essentially, a good horticultural practice (pruning, fertilization, irrigation, fruit thinning). Very effective are also Ca sprays as chloride or nitrate, or citrate, or phosphate, starting after setting, 4–5 times every 10–12 days.     

Effects of peach branches returning on autotoxins and microbes in soil and tree growth of peaches

Aims This study aimed to investigate the effects of branch returning on the growth of peach (Amygdalus persica "Chunmei/Maotao") saplings, soil enzyme activity, and soil contents of phenolic acids and amygdalin, thereby providing scientific evidence against the application of branch returning for peach trees. Methods One-year-old potted peach tree (Amygdalus persica "Chunmei/Maotao") was used in this study with four agricultural treatments applied, including soil coverage by fragmented peach tree branches (fragment treatment;1.5 and 22.5 g·kg^-1) and applying leachate solutions of peach tree branches to soil (leachate treatment; 1.5 and 22.5 g·kg^-1). No branch addition was used as control (CK). Solid phase extraction, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), biological high-throughput sequencing was used to determine the content of autotoxic substances, and microbial community structure in soil. Soil coverage and leachate solution treatments of 30 g and 450 g branches applied to the peach trees were described as 1.5 and 22.5 g·kg^-1, respectively in this paper.Important findings Compared with CK, the phenolic acid and amygdalin contents significantly increased after both fragment and leachate treatments in high quantities (22.5 g·kg^-1). Soil microbial community structure altered in both treatments, with the proportion of fungi (particularly Agaricomycetes, Tubeufia and Cystofilobasidiaceae) increased significantly and bacteria decreased accordingly. Invertase activity in both high-quantity treatments exceeded that in the CK significantly. The activity of catalase and urease was higher at first and then decreased relative to CK under high-quantity fragment and leachate treatments. Specifically, the effect of leachate treatment on enzyme activity was higher than the fragment treatment in the short term. Chlorophyll content, ground diameter (diameter of 5 cm from the ground) growth and net photosynthesis rate of plants were lower in high-quantity fragment and leachate treatments than those in CK, with earlier retardation of new shoot growth. We observed an increase in soil phenolic acids and enzymes in treatments in normal pruning quantity, while no inhibition effect was found on the tree growth. In conclusion, autotoxins (such as phenolic acid and amygdalin) inhibited the growth of peach trees both directly and indirectly through changing soil enzyme activity and microbial community.     

不同寄主植物对山楂叶螨生长发育和繁殖的影响

室内采用叶碟饲养的方法研究了苹果、桃、李、樱桃和杏等不同果树对山楂叶螨Tetrancychusvienensis生长发育和繁殖的影响。结果表明,在李树上山楂叶螨的发育历期短、生殖力强、存活率高,rm值大,而在樱桃和杏树上该螨的发育历期长、生殖力弱、存活率低、rm值小。寄主转换试验结果表明,当山楂叶螨由苹果转移至樱桃和杏树时,其生长发育的历期显著延长,rm值大幅度降低;而由苹果转移至桃树和李树时,其生长发育的历期虽也有所延长,但差异不显著,rm值则明显降低。表明山楂叶螨对新寄主的适应因不同寄主而异,在桃和李上经历1代后即可适应,而在杏和樱桃上经历2代后才能适应新的寄主。     

碧桃朝鲜球坚蚧的出蛰若虫空间格局及应用

采用多种聚集度指标、Iwao法和Taylor幂函数法分析朝鲜球坚蚧出蛰若虫在碧桃上的空间格局。结果表明,出蛰若虫在碧桃上呈聚集分布,分布以个体群形式存在。碧桃不同段位上的聚集度指标和Iwao法均表明其为聚集分布,而Taylor幂函数法测定为上、中段均匀分布,下段聚集分布,综合分析其成因是各样地受害程度及垂直方向虫口密度差异显著所致。聚集均数λ值的测定结果表明,该虫的聚集原因主要由出蛰若虫自身的生物学习性和环境因素所引起。此外,利用空间格局参数确定了理论抽样数和序贯抽样模型。     

桃果实发育阶段肉色形成与类胡萝卜素的变化分析

为了分析不同肉色类型桃果实发育过程中类胡萝卜素成分的变化特点及其颜色差异形成的因素,选择‘半斤桃’(红肉)、‘图八德’(黄肉)、‘正姬’(白肉)桃品种为试材,采用紫外分光光度计和高效液相色谱法(HPLC)对桃果实类胡萝卜素及其组分含量进行定性定量分析.结果显示:(1)桃果实的主要类胡萝卜素成分为叶黄素、玉米黄素、β-隐黄质、α-胡萝卜素和β-胡萝卜素.(2)随着果实的发育,‘半斤桃’和‘正姬’的类胡萝卜素总含量逐渐降低,而‘图八德’则是先降低后上升,且明显高于前二者;3种类型桃果实的叶黄素均逐渐降低,果实成熟时接近0;玉米黄素呈先降后升的趋势,果实成熟时达到最大值;‘半斤桃’和‘正姬’的β-隐黄质、α-胡萝卜素和β-胡萝卜素呈逐渐下降的趋势,而‘图八德’的β-隐黄质含量先升后微降最后上升、α-胡萝卜素和p-胡萝卜素含量则逐渐增加,且均在果实成熟时达到最大值.(3)‘图八德’成熟果实中的类胡萝卜素总含量达到最大值,其中β-胡萝卜素含量最高,占5个成分之和的75.99％.研究表明,桃果实肉色形成与类胡萝卜素的含量与成分有着紧密的联系,尤其是其中的β-胡萝卜素含量.     

莱阳地区梨园、桃园、混栽桃梨园梨小食心虫发生规律

为明确莱阳地区不同栽培模式下单植梨园、单植桃园、混植桃梨园的梨小食心虫Grapholitha molesta(Busck)发生规律,2009—2012年采用性诱芯法对以上果园梨小食心虫的发生规律进行探究并利用有效积温模型预测其发生代数。结果表明:梨小食心虫在莱阳地区一年可发生4代;第1³代主要发生在桃园,发生时间为4—8月上旬,第4代主要发生在梨园,发生时间为8月中下旬或9月初,为害一直可持续到10月中旬。梨小食心虫在不同寄主上发生时间不同,除第一代发生比较整齐之外,其他世代发生时间不统一,尤其是梨园。单植梨园和单植桃园的梨小食心虫都能单独完成发育世代,但数量有差异。通过比较其差异显著性,单植桃园13代主要发生在桃园,发生时间为4—8月上旬,第4代主要发生在梨园,发生时间为8月中下旬或9月初,为害一直可持续到10月中旬。梨小食心虫在不同寄主上发生时间不同,除第一代发生比较整齐之外,其他世代发生时间不统一,尤其是梨园。单植梨园和单植桃园的梨小食心虫都能单独完成发育世代,但数量有差异。通过比较其差异显著性,单植桃园1³代明显多于第4代,单植梨园第4代明显多于第13代明显多于第4代,单植梨园第4代明显多于第1³代。     

A single nucleotide mutation in GID1c disrupts its interaction with DELLA1 and causes a GA‐insensitive dwarf phenotype in peach

Plant stature is one important factor that affects the productivity of peach orchards. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the dwarf phenotype of peach tree. Here, we report a dwarfing mechanism in the peach cv. FenHuaShouXingTao (FHSXT). The dwarf phenotype of ‘FHSXT’ was caused by shorter cell length compared to the standard cv. QiuMiHong (QMH). ‘FHSXT’ contained higher endogenous GA levels than did ‘QMH’ and did not response to exogenous GA treatment (internode elongation). These results indicated that ‘FHSXT’ is a GA‐insensitive dwarf mutant. A dwarf phenotype‐related single nucleotide mutation in the gibberellic acid receptor GID1 was identified in ‘FHSXT’ (GID1c^S191F), which was also cosegregated with dwarf phenotype in 30 tested cultivars. GID1c^S191F was unable to interact with the growth‐repressor DELLA1 even in the presence of GA. ‘FHSXT’ accumulated a higher level of DELLA1, the degradation of which is normally induced by its interaction with GID1. The DELLA1 protein level was almost undetectable in ‘QMH’, but not reduced in ‘FHSXT’ after GA₃ treatment. Our results suggested that a nonsynonymous single nucleotide mutation in GID1c disrupts its interaction with DELLA1 resulting in a GA‐insensitive dwarf phenotype in peach.     

Comparative population genomics identified genomic regions and candidate genes associated with fruit domestication traits in peach

Crop evolution is a long‐term process involving selection by natural evolutionary forces and anthropogenic influences; however, the genetic mechanisms underlying the domestication and improvement of fruit crops have not been well studied to date. Here, we performed a population structure analysis in peach (Prunus persica) based on the genome‐wide resequencing of 418 accessions and confirmed the presence of an obvious domestication event during evolution. We identified 132 and 106 selective sweeps associated with domestication and improvement, respectively. Analysis of their tissue‐specific expression patterns indicated that the up‐regulation of selection genes during domestication occurred mostly in fruit and seeds as opposed to other organs. However, during the improvement stage, more up‐regulated selection genes were identified in leaves and seeds than in the other organs. Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) using 4.24 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed 171 loci associated with 26 fruit domestication traits. Among these loci, three candidate genes were highly associated with fruit weight and the sorbitol and catechin content in fruit. We demonstrated that as the allele frequency of the SNPs associated with high polyphenol composition decreased during peach evolution, alleles associated with high sugar content increased significantly. This indicates that there is genetic potential for the breeding of more nutritious fruit with enhanced bioactive polyphenols without disturbing a harmonious sugar and acid balance by crossing with wild species. This study also describes the development of the genomic resources necessary for evolutionary research in peach and provides the large‐scale characterization of key agronomic traits in this crop species.