Abstract
Phenylpropanoids are a large class of plant secondary metabolites, which play essential roles in human health mainly associated with their antioxidant activity. Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is a rich source of phytonutrients, including phenylpropanoids, which have been shown to have beneficial effects on human health. In this study, using the F. × ananassa ‘232’ × ‘1392’ F1 segregating population, we analyzed the genetic control of individual phenylpropanoid metabolites, total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in strawberry fruit over two seasons. We have identified a total of 7, 9, and 309 quantitative trait loci (QTL) for TPC, TEAC and for 77 polar secondary metabolites, respectively. Hotspots of stable QTL for health-related antioxidant compounds were detected on linkage groups LG IV-3, LG V-2 and V-4, and LG VI-1 and VI-2, where associated markers represent useful targets for marker-assisted selection of new varieties with increased levels of antioxidant secondary compounds. Moreover, differential expression of candidate genes for major and stable mQTLs was studied in fruits of contrasting lines in important flavonoids. Our results indicate that higher expression of FaF3′H, which encodes the flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase, is associated with increased content of these important flavonoids.
Highlights
Fruit and vegetable are a major component of the human diet, promoting healthy ageing by reducing risks of a wide array of chronic and degenerative d iseases[1,2,3,4]
Parental line ‘1392’ presented higher total polyphenol content (TPC) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in both years, the difference was only significant for TEAC in 2014 (Table 1, see sub-section “Variation in Total Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity” in the Supplementary Note for a detailed description)
To focus on the variation on individual secondary metabolites that can contribute to TPC and TEAC, we evaluated which phenylpropanoid-related metabolite were present in ripe fruits from the two parental lines and their F 1 progeny by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS) using the same samples previously profiled for TPC and TEAC
Summary
Fruit and vegetable are a major component of the human diet, promoting healthy ageing by reducing risks of a wide array of chronic and degenerative d iseases[1,2,3,4]. Very recently genomic regions affecting the quantitative variation of fruit flavonoids have been identified in the cultivated strawberry[20,21] In those studies, the content of 13–21 polyphenol compounds was determined and QTL controlling their variation were detected. A QTL mapping approach was carried out to detect genomic regions and candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of phenylpropanoid-derived metabolites in strawberry fruit. Results are discussed both in the context of the regulation of secondary metabolism in strawberry fruits and with respect to the efficiency of identified markers to assist the nutritional fortification of fruits during crop breeding
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