Morphological Diversity, Genetic Characterization, and Phytochemical Assessment of the Cypriot Tomato Germplasm.

Filio Athinodorou,Anastasios Kotsiras,Angelos C Kyratzis,Georgios Tsaniklidis,Antonios Chrysargyris,Nikolaos Tzortzakis,Costas Delis,Petros Foukas,Nikolaos Nikoloudakis

doi:10.3390/plants10081698

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is considered one of the most valuable and versatile vegetable crops globally and also serves as a significant model species for fruit developmental biology. Despite its significance, a severe genetic bottleneck and intense selection of genotypes with specific qualitative traits have resulted in the prevalence of a restricted number of (geno)types, also causing a lack of diversity across widespread cultivated types. As a result, the re-emergence of landraces as well as traditional and heirloom varieties is largely acknowledged as a countermeasure to restore phenotypic, phytochemical and genetic diversity while enriching the aroma/taste tomato palette. On those grounds, the Cypriot tomato germplasm was assessed and characterized. Ten landrace accessions were evaluated under greenhouse conditions and data were collected for 24 IPGRI discrete phenotypic traits. Grouping of accessions largely reflected the fruit shape and size; four different fruit types were recorded across accessions (flattened, heart-shaped, rounded and highly rounded). Moreover, a single run panel consisting of ten SSRs was developed and applied in order to genetically characterize 190 Cypriot genotypes and foreign heirloom varieties. Based on genetic indexes it was established that tomato landraces have a rather low level of heterogeneity and genetic variation. Finally, mineral and phytochemical analyses were conducted in order to estimate biochemical attributes (total phenolics, ascorbic acid, lycopene, β-carotene, total soluble content, titratable acidity) across genotypes; thus, ascertaining that the Cypriot panel has a high nutritional value. Due to the thermo-drought adaptation and tolerance of these genotypes, the current study serves as a roadmap for future breeding efforts in order to incorporate desirable traits or develop novel tomato lines combining resilience and alimentary value.

Highlights

IntroductionTomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most highly appraised and versatile vegetable crops globally and is widely cultivated for fresh-fruit consumption, grown as an industrial/cash crop or even for processed (concentrate, juice, paste, powder, soup or sauce) products [1]
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most highly appraised and versatile vegetable crops globally and is widely cultivated for fresh-fruit consumption, grown as an industrial/cash crop or even for processed products [1]
It is generally thought that indications regarding the disparities within tomato landrace germplasm are still rather inadequate, since regionally grown traditional genotypes should not be conceived as strictly homogenous [26]. In view of these remarks and due to the shortage of comprehensive information regarding the Cypriot tomato genetic recourses, the objectives of the current study were: (i) to perform a morphological description using scores and descriptors according to worldwide standard norms (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) descriptors); (ii) to use microsatellite genetic markers and append landraces of other origins to define the genetic structure and intra-relations of Cypriot tomato varieties; (iii) to assess the variation in phytochemicals and other traits of tomato fruits from plants grown under uniform greenhouse conditions and (iv) to investigate the relations between them

Summary

Introduction

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most highly appraised and versatile vegetable crops globally and is widely cultivated for fresh-fruit consumption, grown as an industrial/cash crop or even for processed (concentrate, juice, paste, powder, soup or sauce) products [1]. Tomatoes can be grown either in a field or in greenhouses, while soilless cultivation schemes enjoy increasing popularity. Such crop production systems’ flexibility allows for worldwide productivity, even in marginal or desert areas [3]. From an alimentary supply standpoint, tomato fruits are a significant source of vitamins, fibers, sugars, and essential minerals for the human diet [4]. Besides its universal farming and financial standing as a crop, tomato is a pre-eminent model system for fundamental and applied plant genetic studies focusing on the ripening process [5], secondary metabolism pathways [6]

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