Articles
FLESH CAROTENOID PROFILE IN CLIMACTERIC NEAR-ISOGENIC LINES OF MELON OBTAINED FROM NON-CLIMACTERIC PARENTALS: IMPLICATIONS FOR FRUIT DESIGN
Article number
858_3
Pages
43 – 49
Language
English
Abstract
Some carotenoids are precursors of melon fruit aroma. ß-carotene and ß-cryptoxanthin also show provitamin A activity, and lutein and zeaxanthin play a role in preventing macular degeneration.
However, little information is available about the genetic basis of carotenoid biosynthesis in melon that can serve for future quality-oriented breeding programs or postharvest applications in the agrifood chain.
A collection of aromatic near-isogenic lines (NILs) showing different climacteric behaviour obtained from two non-aromatic and non-climacteric parentals (Piel de sapo or PS; PI 161375) may serve to establish a basis for such a program.
The NILs exhibited differences in flesh colour (pale white-yellow to light orange), while the flesh of PS was pale white-yellow and that of PI 161375 green-flesh.
This variability was used for carotenoid profile studies.
About 12 carotenoid compounds were detected in the population, though only four constituted the profile of the lines studied (trans-violaxanthin, cis-violaxanthin, lutein and trans ß-carotene). Five carotenoid compounds were good discriminants among NILS and PS (cis-neoxanthin only present in PS and neoxanthin, phytoene and α- and ß-cryptoxanthin only present in the NILs). Zeaxanthin was only present in one NIL and in PS. The infor¬mation is discussed in terms of carotenoid biosynthesis, mapping QTLs responsible for carotenoid metabolism and aroma, climacteric or non-climacteric pattern, nutritional implications as a source of provitamin A, and possible implications for the future design of melon cultivars with a predictable carotenoid composition depending on consumer preferences.
However, little information is available about the genetic basis of carotenoid biosynthesis in melon that can serve for future quality-oriented breeding programs or postharvest applications in the agrifood chain.
A collection of aromatic near-isogenic lines (NILs) showing different climacteric behaviour obtained from two non-aromatic and non-climacteric parentals (Piel de sapo or PS; PI 161375) may serve to establish a basis for such a program.
The NILs exhibited differences in flesh colour (pale white-yellow to light orange), while the flesh of PS was pale white-yellow and that of PI 161375 green-flesh.
This variability was used for carotenoid profile studies.
About 12 carotenoid compounds were detected in the population, though only four constituted the profile of the lines studied (trans-violaxanthin, cis-violaxanthin, lutein and trans ß-carotene). Five carotenoid compounds were good discriminants among NILS and PS (cis-neoxanthin only present in PS and neoxanthin, phytoene and α- and ß-cryptoxanthin only present in the NILs). Zeaxanthin was only present in one NIL and in PS. The infor¬mation is discussed in terms of carotenoid biosynthesis, mapping QTLs responsible for carotenoid metabolism and aroma, climacteric or non-climacteric pattern, nutritional implications as a source of provitamin A, and possible implications for the future design of melon cultivars with a predictable carotenoid composition depending on consumer preferences.
Authors
M.J. Rodrigo, L. Zacarías, W. Deleu, J. Garcia-Mas, A.J. Monforte, J.M. Obando-Ulloa, J.P. Fernández-Trujillo
Keywords
Cucumis melo L., fruit quality, carotenoids, quantitative trait loci, metabolomics, nutritional quality
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