Pathways to doubled haploidy: chromosome doubling during androgenesis.

Production of doubled haploid (DH) plants through androgenesis induction is a promising and convenient alternative to conventional selfing techniques for the generation of pure lines for breeding programs. This process comprises two main steps: induction of androgenesis and duplication of the haploid genome. Such duplication is sometimes indirectly induced by the treatments used to promote androgenic development. But usually, an additional step of direct chromosome doubling must be included in the protocol. Duplication of the haploid genome of androgenic individuals has been thought to occur through three mechanisms: endoreduplication, nuclear fusion and c-mitosis. In this review we will revise and analyze the evidences supporting each of the proposed mechanisms and their relevance during androgenesis induction, embryo/callus development and plant regeneration. Special attention will be devoted to nuclear fusion, whose evidences are accumulating in the last years.

Natural Occurrence of Viruses in Lycopersicon spp. in Ecuador.

The Andean region is home of important genetic diversity for the genus Lycopersicon. A survey of three asymptomatic populations of L. hirsutum, 17 of L. parviflorum, 188 of L. pimpinellifolium, and four cultivated populations of L. esculentum was made in nine departments of Ecuador. Samples were analyzed serologically for Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Potato virus X (PVX), Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV), Tomato chlorosis spot virus (TCSV), and Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV). Samples positive as determined using double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (absorbance values three times higher than negative controls) were analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with virus-specific primers. L pimpinellifolium was the only species of the four found to be infected with viruses. In the department of Manabí, ToMV was detected in 15 of 16 plants from one population, but only a single plant was infected with PepMV. In this department, PepMV was also detected in a single-plant population that corresponded to a volunteer plant found in the wild and TSWV was detected in another plant. In Esmeraldas and Guayas, two single-plant populations were found infected with PepMV and CMV, respectively. TMV, PVY, PVX, GRSV, and TCSV were not detected in this survey. Specific primers were selected for ToMV (To1/To2, genome coordinates 3498-3518/4902-4922, AJ417701), PepMV (Pe1/Pe2 genome coordinates 5030-5050/5913-5935, AJ606359), CMV (Cm1/Cm2 genome coordinates 541-561/1756-1779, D00356), and TSWV (Ts1/Ts2 genome coordinates 4078-4101/4738-4769, AF208498). Amplicons of the expected size were obtained using RT-PCR and then cloned and sequenced. DNA fragments of ToMV, PepMV, and TSWV showed identities greater than 99% with respective sequences in the GenBank database. The highest identity of the CMV DNA fragment was 92% with an isolate from Indonesia (AB042292). The occurrence of viruses such as CMV, ToMV, and TSWV in coastal Ecuador was not surprising. However, infected plants were not found among the samples collected in the departments of Azuay, Carchí, El Oro, Imbabura, Loja, and Pichincha in eastern Ecuador. L. chilense, L. chmielewskii, L. parviflorum, and L. peruvianum were previously reported as natural hosts of PepMV in central and southern Peru (2), and the virus was also detected in L. esculentum in Chile (1). Our results show that PepMV now occurs in wild L. pimpinellifolium populations along the Pacific coast of the South American continent and that it must have efficient means of transmission, although no specific vectors have as yet been identified for this virus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of PepMV in Ecuador and L. pimpinellifolium as a natural host of PepMV. References: (1) M. Muñoz et al. Fitopatología 37:67, 2002. (2) S. Soler et al. J. Phytopathol. 150:49, 2002.

Tomato Mosaic Tobamovirus, Causal Agent of a Severe Disease of Pepino (Solanum muricatum).

Pepino (Solanum muricatum Aiton), a vegetatively propagated herbaceous crop from the Andes, is esteemed for its edible, juicy, and fragrant fruits. Its cultivation as a crop for diversification is increasing in many frost-free areas throughout the world (2). In 1994, a severe viruslike disease, previously undescribed, was observed on pepino plants in Valencia, Spain. The disease has continued to cause economic losses in pepino plantings in subsequent years. Symptoms, which are exacerbated at temperatures above 30°C, include dark and light green mosaic predominantly in young leaves, leaf puckering and distortion, short internodes, fruit deformation, delay in ripening, and yield reduction. Samples from affected plants were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All samples displaying viruslike symptoms reacted positively with antiserum made against tomato mosaic tobamovirus (ToMV) but not with antisera made against alfalfa mosaic alfamovirus, cucumber mosaic cucumovirus, potato Y potyvirus, tobacco mosaic tobamovirus, tomato spotted wilt tospovirus, or tomato yellow leaf curl bigeminivirus. A leaf extract from diseased plants was heated at 72°C for 10 min. This treatment inactivates most plant viruses but does not eliminate infectivity of ToMV (1). Inoculation of a collection of pepino clones resulted in the development of symptoms in most clones. Symptomatic clones were also ELISA-positive for ToMV. A few clones showed a hypersensitive reaction, which consisted of the development of necrotic lesions in the inoculated area. New growth on these clones was asymptomatic and ELISA-negative for ToMV. These results clearly point to a causal relationship between ToMV infection and the observed disease. The initial source of the infection should be eliminated from commercial plantings, as ToMV is easily transmitted when the pepino plants are trellised and pruned. Special care must also be taken to ensure that mother plants from which cuttings are taken are free from this virus. In addition, ToMV is usually found in meristematic tissues, even after thermotherapy and chemotherapy treatments are applied, making the regeneration of virus-free plants from infected clones by meristem tip culture difficult. Therefore, it seems that the best strategy against this disease is the development of resistant cultivars. References: (1) H. Laterrot. Ann. Amélior. Plant. 23:287, 1973; (2) J. Prohens et al. Econ. Bot. 50:355, 1996.

Bin mapping of genomic and EST-derived SSRs in melon (Cucumis melo L.).

We report the development of 158 primer pairs flanking SSR motifs in genomic (gSSR) and EST (EST-SSR) melon sequences, all yielding polymorphic bands in melon germplasm, except one that was polymorphic only in Cucurbita species. A similar polymorphism level was found among EST-SSRs and gSSRs, between dimeric and trimeric EST-SSRs, and between EST-SSRs placed in the open reading frame or any of the 5'- or 3'-untranslated regions. Correlation between SSR length and polymorphism was only found for dinucleotide EST-SSRs located within the untranslated regions, but not for trinucleotide EST-SSRs. Transferability of EST-SSRs to Cucurbita species was assayed and 12.7% of the primer pairs amplified at least in one species, although only 5.4% were polymorphic. A set of 14 double haploid lines from the cross between the cultivar "Piel de Sapo" and the accession PI161375 were selected for the bin mapping approach in melon. One hundred and twenty-one SSR markers were newly mapped. The position of 46 SSR loci was also verified by genotyping the complete population. A final bin-map was constructed including 80 RFLPs, 212 SSRs, 3 SNPs and the Nsv locus, distributed in 122 bins with an average bin length of 10.2 cM and a maximum bin length of 33 cM. Map density was 4.2 cM/marker or 5.9 cM/SSR.

Characterisation of several heterogeneous species of defective RNAs derived from RNA 3 of cucumber mosaic virus.

Preparations of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) extracted from Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi plants infected with a subgroup IB isolate of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were found to contain a heterogeneous population of defective RNAs (D-RNAs) derived from RNA 3. Characterised D-RNAs ranged in size from 1.5 to 1.9 kb and were derived either by a single in-frame deletion within the 3a or 3b genes or by means of double in-frame deletions within both genes. Also, northern blot hybridisation showed two other types of RNA derived from RNA 3: (a) RNA species of ca. 0.7 kb containing the 3'-terminus but lacking the 5'-terminus, which could be 3'-coterminal subgenomic of D-RNAs derived from the 3b gene and (b) RNA species of unknown origin of ca. 0.8 kb containing the 5'-terminus but lacking the 3'-terminus.

Comparison of the complete sequences of three different isolates of Pepino mosaic virus: size variability of the TGBp3 protein between tomato and L. peruvianum isolates.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genomes of two Spanish isolates (LE-2000 and LE-2002) from tomato and one Peruvian isolate (LP-2001) from Lycopersicon peruvianum of the Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) were determined. The tomato isolates share identities higher than 99%, while the genome of LP-2001 had mean nucleotide identities of 95.6% to 96.0% with tomato isolates. The predicted amino acid sequences showed similarities ranging between 95.2% and 100% with TGBp3 and TGBp2 and CP proteins, respectively. In LP-2001 two main differences were found with respect to the tomato isolates; (i) the 5' untranslated region (UTR) was 2 nt shorter by deletion at position 12-13 and it had some polymorphims at the putative promoter sequence reported for PepMV tomato isolates and other potexviruses, which could be functionally significant for RNA replication, and (ii) the TGBp3 protein had two extra amino acids in the C-terminal region.

Tolerance to a whitefly-transmitted virus causing muskmelon yellows disease in Spain.

Muskmelon yellowing disease was one of the most serious problems affecting muskmelon crops along the south-east coast of Spain throughout the 1980s. The causal agent of this disease is a virus that we call muskmelon yellows virus (MYV); MYV is transmitted by the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood. It has proven impossible to find sources of resistance to MYV within a wide collection of Spanish muskmelon landraces and exotic varieties. However, 'Nagata Kin Makuwa' and PI 161375, lines of Asiatic origin, show tolerance to this disease. These two lines were studied together with two others ('Galia' and 'Piel de Sapo' type) that are very susceptible to MYV. The crosses between them (susceptible x tolerant) and the segregant generations derived from these crosses were also investigated. The studies were carried out in two different places and years. The expression of tolerance is influenced by the environment. A parabolic type relationship exists between the average value of percentage of tolerant plants and their variation. This allowed us to quantify the expected response in the segregant generations. The results observed in these generations agreed with a simple genetic control of tolerance. This tolerance, combined with protective measures which delay the infection, can contribute notably to mitigating the effects of MYV.

Genetic diversity of a germplasm collection of Cucurbita pepo using SRAP and AFLP markers.

Cucurbita pepo is a highly polymorphic species. The cultivars can be grouped into eight morphotypes in two subspecies, ssp. pepo and ssp. ovifera. A collection of 69 accessions representative of the morphotypes and some unclassified types was used for analysing the morphological and molecular diversity of this species. This collection includes commercial cultivars and Spanish landraces, which represent the great diversification of types that have arisen in Europe after this species arrived from America. For the molecular variability studies, two PCR-based systems were employed, AFLP and SRAP, which preferentially amplify ORFs. Principal coordinates analysis and cluster analysis using the UPGMA method clearly separate the accessions into the two subspecies through the use of both markers. However, the gene diversity and the genetic identity values among morphotypes and subspecies varied between the two marker systems. The information given by SRAP markers was more concordant to the morphological variability and to the evolutionary history of the morphotypes than that of AFLP markers. In ssp. ovifera, the accessions of the different morphotypes were basically grouped according to the fruit colour. This may indicate different times of development and also the extent of breeding in the accessions used. This study has allowed identification of new types that can be employed for the development of new cultivars. The landraces of the spp. ovifera, used as ornamental in Europe, have proved to be of great interest for preserving the diversity of C. pepo.

Correlated response of in vitro regeneration capacity from different source of explants inCucumis melo.

The variation among and within different populations of the regeneration ability from leaf, cotyledon and hypocotyl explants has been studied. A control population and two lines selected by their regeneration capacity from leaf explants were used. Significant differences among the plants of the control population,for the organogenic response, were detected. The regeneration capacity varies depending on the type of explant. Selection in order to improve the regeneration frequency from leaf explants also raises the organogenic response in the other explant types. This result suggests the presence of a partial common genetic system controlling the regeneration frequency of the diverse types of explants.

Multivariate analysis applied to tomato hybrid production.

Twenty characters were measured on 60 tomato varieties cultivated in the open-air and in polyethylene plastic-house. Data were analyzed by means of principal components, factorial discriminant methods, Mahalanobis D(2) distances and principal coordinate techniques. Factorial discriminant and Mahalanobis D(2) distances methods, both of which require collecting data plant by plant, lead to similar conclusions as the principal components method that only requires taking data by plots. Characters that make up the principal components in both environments studied are the same, although the relative importance of each one of them varies within the principal components. By combining information supplied by multivariate analysis with the inheritance mode of characters, crossings among cultivars can be experimented with that will produce heterotic hybrids showing characters within previously established limits.

The gene pat-2, which induces natural parthenocarpy, alters the gibberellin content in unpollinated tomato ovaries.

We investigated the role of gibberellins (GAs) in the effect of pat-2, a recessive mutation that induces facultative parthenocarpic fruit development in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) using near-isogenic lines with two different genetic backgrounds. Unpollinated wild-type Madrigal (MA/wt) and Cuarenteno (CU/wt) ovaries degenerated, but GA(3) application induced parthenocarpic fruit growth. On the contrary, parthenocarpic growth of MA/pat-2 and CU/pat-2 fruits, which occurs in the absence of pollination and hormone application, was not affected by GA(3). Pollinated MA/wt and parthenocarpic MA/pat-2 ovary development was negated by paclobutrazol, and this inhibitory effect was counteracted by GA(3). The main GAs of the early-13-hydroxylation pathway (GA(1), GA(3), GA(8), GA(19), GA(20), GA(29), GA(44), GA(53), and, tentatively, GA(81)) and two GAs of the non-13-hydroxylation pathway (GA(9) and GA(34)) were identified in MA/wt ovaries by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring. GAs were quantified in unpollinated ovaries at flower bud, pre-anthesis, and anthesis. In unpollinated MA/pat-2 and CU/pat-2 ovaries, the GA(20) content was much higher (up to 160 times higher) and the GA(19) content was lower than in the corresponding non-parthenocarpic ovaries. The application of an inhibitor of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases suggested that GA(20) is not active per se. The pat-2 mutation may increase GA 20-oxidase activity in unpollinated ovaries, leading to a higher synthesis of GA(20), the precursor of an active GA.

Variability and correlations in muskmelon in relation to the cultivation method.

Six fruit characters have been measured in 23 cultivars of Cucumis melo, representing a wide geographical range. Plants were grown both in the greenhouse and in the field. When the 23 cultivars were analyzed together, the largest component of variance was found between cultivars under both growth conditions, suggesting the existence of large genetic diversity for all the characters studied. Generally, variance between plants within cultivars was less than or equal to variance between fruits within plant. This indicates that environmental variation is the most important part of the variation within cultivars. Correlations between pairs of characters at cultivar, plant and fruit levels were calculated from the variance-covariance components. In the majority of paired traits, the correlation values indicated that genetic and environmental factors may act in the same direction.

Determination of L-ascorbic acid in Lycopersicon fruits by capillary zone electrophoresis.

This study shows an improved method for the determination of L-ascorbic acid (l-AA) in fruits of Lycopersicon by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Two backgrounds electrolytes (BGEs) have been tested: (i) 400 mM borate at pH 8.0 and 1 x 10(-2)% hexadimethrine bromide, for the separation of Eulycopersicon subgenus species; and (ii) as in BGE(i) but supplemented with 20% (v/v) acetonitrile, for the separation of species of the Eriopersicon subgenus. The present procedures were compared with two routine methods-enzymatic assay and potentiometric titration with 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol. While these routine methods presented some difficulties in quantifying l-AA in several Lycopersicon fruits, CZE was successfully applied in all the analyzed samples. The proposed CZE protocols give lower detection limits (<0.4 microg ml(-1)); are cheaper, quicker, and highly reproducible; and can be applied to analyze large series of samples (ca. 50 samples per day) which is utmost importance, not only in screening trials for internal quality and tomato breeding programs, but also in systematic and routine characterization of Lycopersicon fruits.