Location of Gene Del

Vulkova Z., Chalukova M. and Lukarska E.

Maritza Institute for Vegetable Crops, 32 Brezovsko shosse str., Plovdive-4003, BULGARIA

The gene Del, responsible for Delta-carotene synthesis in tomato fruits, was reported by Tomes (1963). Its source was L. hirsutum f. typicum. The gene is found in the genome of all green fruited species (Soost 1956; Rick 1973; Chalukova, Stoeva 1988). Del^hirs^, Del^chm^ and Del^pen^ proved to be allelic (Chalukova, Stoeva 1988; Chalukova et al. 1990). The aim of the present investigation was to locate the gene Del, since no references on the subject have been available to us. In that purpose we used line DelDel, kindly presented by Dr. Darby, Glasshouse Crop Research Institute, UK and the marker lines for all chromosomes, excepting 7 and 9, presented by the Tomato Genetics Stock Center, Davis, California.

Results of the segregation in BC1P2 (line DelDel x LA 1171 - fd aud) and in BC1P2 (line DelDel x LA 1177 - alb mua) showed that Del was located on chromosome 12 (Table 1). Data from F2 (DelDel x LA 1177) served only as orientation bout the linkage Del-fd. As far as we know the location of aud and mua on chromosome 12 is not yet fixed. According to the frequency of recombination in BC1P2 (DelDel x La 1171) Del is situated very near to fd. The distance between them is about 2 crossover units (Table 2). The linear order of the two markers and of the gene studied could be Del-fd-aud or fd-Del-aud. In the first case the locus of Del will be situated at position 29 and in the second case - at position 33. The gene aud should have to be at position 50-52 (Fig. 1).

Table 1. Phenotype segregation

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Combination                          Segregation
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                        Del+fl+    Del+fl   Del fl+   Del fl
BC1P2/DelDel x LA1171/  65        2        10        45
F2/DelDel x LA1171/     125       22       0         61
                        Del+aud+  Del+aud  Del aud+  Del aud
BC1P2/DelDel x LA1171/  51        15       1         54
F2/DelDel x LA1171/     125       23       0         60
                        Del+alb+  Del+alb  Del alb+  Del alb
BC1P2/DelDel x LA1171/  40        21       15        53
                        Del+mua+  Del+mua  Del mua+  Del mua
BC1P2/DelDel x LA1171/  44        18       16        54  
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The data from BC1P2 (DelDel x LA 1177) suggest that Del is located 27 units from alb. This result is very close to the result for the first combination in linear order Del-fd-aud. Therefore we accept that Del is located at the 29 and not at the position 35. As far as the position of mua is concerned according to the crossing-over percentage alb-mua, it should be located about the position 44 and according to the crossing-over percentage Del-mua the latter is 26 units from Del, i.e. on position 55. Probably mua should be located between position 44 and 55 on chromosome 12.

Table 2. Frequency of recombination

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Combination             Genes   No of  No. of reco    Distance
                                plants mbinations
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BC1P2(DelDel x LA1171)  Del-fd   122   3           2,46+\-1,91
                        Del-aud  122   (22 + 3)   20,49+\-1,33  
F2(DelDel x LA1171)     Del-fd   208   1           0,48+\-2,30
                        Del-aud  208   (22 + 1)   11,05+\-4,72  
BC1P2(DelDel x LA1171)  Del-alb  132   (25 + 11)  27,27+\-1,50
                        Del-mua  132   (23 + 11)  25,75+\-2,45  
                        alb-mua  132   (25 + 23)  43,93+\-4,76  
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Figure 1. Linkage map of chromosome 12


Literature cited:

Chalukova, M. and P. Stoeva 1988. Plant Breeding, 100:230-234.

Chalukova, M., Z. Vulkova-Atchkova, E. Lukarska 1990. TGC Report, 40:8.

Rick, C. 1974. Hilgardia, 42:493-510.

Soost, R., 1956. TGC Report, 6:28-33.

Tomes, M. 1963. Bot. Gaz., 124:180-185.