Determination of ETR1 genotypes in promising apple selections developed at Fruit Research Institute - Cacak

Abstract

Ethylene, as the simplest signaling molecule with hormone-like function, regulates a broad spectrum of different processes in plants, including ripening. It is perceived by a receptor family divided into two subfamilies (I and II). In apple, ETR1 gene encodes one of ethylene receptors ? ETR1 receptor which is a member of subfamily I. ETR1 genotypes were determined for six promising apple selections bred at Fruit Research Institute in Cacak [J/54/53/59 (?Cox's Orange Pippin? O.P.), J/1/7, J/1/20, J/2/14 and J/60/7/63 (?Granny Smith? ? ?Golden Delicious?), and J/2/50 (?Idared? O.P.)] and four commercially important parental cultivars (?Cox's Orange Pippin?, ?Golden Delicious?, ?Granny Smith? and ?Idared?). Polymorphism of ETR1 gene was detected by restriction analysis of PCR amplified product with two restriction enzymes (RsaI and AluI). Three alleles (a, b and c) and four allelic constitutions of ETR1 gene (aa, ac, b,a/c and c,a/c) were detected. This study has confirmed that ETR1 gene is inherited in Mendelian fashion and showed that polymorphism of ETR1 gene can aid cultivar and selection genotyping. Based on allelic constitution of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis and perception, and on the major biological and agronomic traits, J/54/53/59 has been singled out as elite apple selection.