Validation of SNP marker linked to alc gene for long shelf life of tomato

Abstract

ABSTRACTTomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits are naturally perishable and have short shelf life. Post-harvest losses can be devastating and can be associated with rapid ripening. The objective of this study was to identify a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker associated with alc gene conferring long shelf life in tomato. The tomato line CSIR/CRI-AT06 was crossed with Alc-LA3134 to develop an F2 population. A total of 72 plants were screened for the target loci. Genotypic data of the F2 population were generated following the scoring system as [T:A] for heterozygous individuals, [A:A] and [T:T] for plants homozygous for the donor and recipient parents, respectively. An assessment of the Sly10–14 SNP marker was completed by comparing SNP score against fruit shelf life of the 72 F2 entries. The pattern of segregation of SNP marker for the alc gene was tested for goodness of fit to a 1:2:1 ratio using Chi-square test (χ2) test. The results showed that the marker segregated in the expected ratio. The analysis from 72 F2 population plants indicated that SNP marker (Sly 10-14) had significant association with shelf life at 1% significance level. From the analysis, it can be established that a locus linked to Sly10-14 is significant. The homozygous marker (A:A) has an effect of increasing shelf life by 22 days and explains 87% of the observed variation. This marker (Sly10-14) is linked to a gene that controls the shelf life of tomato fruits. The effect of this gene is additive and it increases the shelf life.