The genetic architecture of photosynthesis and plant growthrelated traits in tomato

To identify genomic regions involved in the regulation of fundamental physiological processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, a population of Solanum pennellii introgression lines was analyzed. We determined phenotypes for physiological, metabolic, and growth related traits, including gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Data analysis allowed the identification of 208 physiological and metabolic quantitative trait loci with 33 of these being associated to smaller intervals of the genomic regions, termed BINs. Eight BINs were identified that were associated with higher assimilation rates than the recurrent parent M82. Two and 10 genomic regions were related to shoot and root dry matter accumulation, respectively. Nine genomic regions were associated with starch levels, whereas 12 BINs were associated with the levels of other metabolites. Additionally, a comprehensive and detailed annotation of the genomic regions spanning these quantitative trait loci allowed us to identify 87 candidate genes that putatively control the investigated traits. We confirmed 8 of these at the level of variance in gene expression. Taken together, our results allowed the identification of candidate genes that most likely regulate photosynthesis, primary metabolism, and plant growth and as such provide new avenues for crop improvement.

Instituto de Biotecnología

Fil: Oliveira Silva, Franklin Magnum de. Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Departamento de Biologia Vegetal. Max‐Planck Partner Group; Brasil

Fil: Lichtenstein, Gabriel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina

Fil: Lichtenstein, Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Alseekh, Saleh. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology. Department of Molecular Physiology; Alemania

Fil: Rosado‐Souza, Laise. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology; Alemania

Fil: Conte, Mariana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina

Fil: Conte, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Fil: Fuentes Suguiyama, Vanessa. Universidade Federal do ABC; Brasil

Fil: Lira, Bruno Silvestre. Universidade de São Pablo. Instituto de Biociencias. Departamento de Botânica; Brasil

Fil: Fanourakis, Dimitrios. Department of Viticulture, Floriculture, Vegetable Crops and Plant Protection; Grecia

Fil: Usadel, Björn. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University. Institute for Botany and Molecular Genetics (IBMG). Institute for Biology I; Alemania

Fil: Usadel, Björn. Forschungszentrum Jülich. Institut für Bio- und Geowissenschaften 2 (IBG-2); Alemania

Fil: Lopes Bhering, Leonardo. Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Departamento de Biologia Geral; Brasil

Fil: DaMatta, Fábio M. Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Departamento de Biologia Vegetal; Brasil

Fil: Sulpice, Ronan. National University of Ireland Galway. Plant & Agribiosiences. Plant and AgriBiosciences Research Centre. Plant Systems Biology Lab; Irlanda

Fil: Araújo, Wagner L. Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Departamento de Biologia Vegetal. Max‐Planck Partner Group; Brasil

Fil: Rossi, Magdalena. Universidade de São Pablo. Instituto de Biociencias. Departamento de Botânica; Brasil

Fil: de Setta, Nathalia. Universidade Federal do ABC; Brasil

Fil: Fernie, Alisdair R. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology. Department of Molecular Physiology; Alemania

Fil: Carrari, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina

Fil: Carrari, Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; Argentina

Fil: Nunes Nesi, Adriano. Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Departamento de Biologia Vegetal. Max‐Planck Partner Group; Brasil