Analysis on Unveiling the Natural Dynamics of Parthenocarpy and Self-Compatibility in Apple Trees
Apple (<i>Malus domestica</i>) is self-incompatible and typically requires cross-pollination for seed and fruit development. Parthenocarpy (fruit development without fertilization) and self-compatibility (fruit set without external pollen) are highly desirable traits in apple breeding, a...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1261 |
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| author | Rongmei Wu Xiaoying Chen Bin Xia Yujia Yang Claire Molloy Ruiling Wang Hilary S. Ireland Robert J. Schaffer Satish Kumar Jia-Long Yao |
| author_facet | Rongmei Wu Xiaoying Chen Bin Xia Yujia Yang Claire Molloy Ruiling Wang Hilary S. Ireland Robert J. Schaffer Satish Kumar Jia-Long Yao |
| author_sort | Rongmei Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Apple (<i>Malus domestica</i>) is self-incompatible and typically requires cross-pollination for seed and fruit development. Parthenocarpy (fruit development without fertilization) and self-compatibility (fruit set without external pollen) are highly desirable traits in apple breeding, as they ensure consistent fruit production and quality without cross-pollination. However, apple parthenocarpic and self-compatible accessions have not been available for practical breeding. To identify these accessions, we analysed 436 accessions of <i>Malus domestica</i> and 84 accessions of wild <i>Malus</i> species by assessing fruit production. Flowers were bagged before opening to prevent cross-pollination. If fruit developed from the bagged flowers, it indicated the presence of self-compatibility or parthenocarpy, depending on whether the fruit contained seeds. We observed and scored a range of phenotypic expressions among accessions, from weak to strong in both parthenocarpy and potential self-compatibility. Strong parthenocarpy was observed in 5.95% of wild <i>Malus</i> species accessions and 3.44% of <i>M. domestica</i> accessions. Similarly, strong self-compatibility was exhibited in 5.95% of wild <i>Malus</i> species accessions and 2.75% of <i>M. domestica</i> accessions. Although bagged flowers showed lower fruit set rates than open-pollinated (OP) flowers, fruit size, weight, firmness, and soluble sugar and starch content showed no significant differences between fruits produced from bagged and OP flowers. Furthermore, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted with a high-throughput SNP array. This analysis identified several genes potentially associated with these traits. This research provides parthenocarpic and self-compatible apple accessions for breeding, which can generate novel cultivars that eliminate the need for cross-pollination or produce seedless fruit without pollination. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-151f3560095a4c0a97b8701a46caf0b9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-151f3560095a4c0a97b8701a46caf0b92024-12-27T14:29:03ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242024-11-011012126110.3390/horticulturae10121261Analysis on Unveiling the Natural Dynamics of Parthenocarpy and Self-Compatibility in Apple TreesRongmei Wu0Xiaoying Chen1Bin Xia2Yujia Yang3Claire Molloy4Ruiling Wang5Hilary S. Ireland6Robert J. Schaffer7Satish Kumar8Jia-Long Yao9The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, 120 Mt Albert Road, Sandringham, Auckland 1025, New ZealandThe New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, 30 Crosses Road, Havelock North 4130, New ZealandCollege of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaThe New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, 30 Crosses Road, Havelock North 4130, New ZealandThe New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, 120 Mt Albert Road, Sandringham, Auckland 1025, New ZealandThe New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, 120 Mt Albert Road, Sandringham, Auckland 1025, New ZealandThe New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, 55 Old Mill Road, RD3, Motueka 7198, New ZealandThe New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, 30 Crosses Road, Havelock North 4130, New ZealandThe New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, 120 Mt Albert Road, Sandringham, Auckland 1025, New ZealandApple (<i>Malus domestica</i>) is self-incompatible and typically requires cross-pollination for seed and fruit development. Parthenocarpy (fruit development without fertilization) and self-compatibility (fruit set without external pollen) are highly desirable traits in apple breeding, as they ensure consistent fruit production and quality without cross-pollination. However, apple parthenocarpic and self-compatible accessions have not been available for practical breeding. To identify these accessions, we analysed 436 accessions of <i>Malus domestica</i> and 84 accessions of wild <i>Malus</i> species by assessing fruit production. Flowers were bagged before opening to prevent cross-pollination. If fruit developed from the bagged flowers, it indicated the presence of self-compatibility or parthenocarpy, depending on whether the fruit contained seeds. We observed and scored a range of phenotypic expressions among accessions, from weak to strong in both parthenocarpy and potential self-compatibility. Strong parthenocarpy was observed in 5.95% of wild <i>Malus</i> species accessions and 3.44% of <i>M. domestica</i> accessions. Similarly, strong self-compatibility was exhibited in 5.95% of wild <i>Malus</i> species accessions and 2.75% of <i>M. domestica</i> accessions. Although bagged flowers showed lower fruit set rates than open-pollinated (OP) flowers, fruit size, weight, firmness, and soluble sugar and starch content showed no significant differences between fruits produced from bagged and OP flowers. Furthermore, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted with a high-throughput SNP array. This analysis identified several genes potentially associated with these traits. This research provides parthenocarpic and self-compatible apple accessions for breeding, which can generate novel cultivars that eliminate the need for cross-pollination or produce seedless fruit without pollination.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1261apple breedingbagging flowersfertilisationfruit setgenome-wide association study (GWAS)genetic resources |
| spellingShingle | Rongmei Wu Xiaoying Chen Bin Xia Yujia Yang Claire Molloy Ruiling Wang Hilary S. Ireland Robert J. Schaffer Satish Kumar Jia-Long Yao Analysis on Unveiling the Natural Dynamics of Parthenocarpy and Self-Compatibility in Apple Trees Horticulturae apple breeding bagging flowers fertilisation fruit set genome-wide association study (GWAS) genetic resources |
| title | Analysis on Unveiling the Natural Dynamics of Parthenocarpy and Self-Compatibility in Apple Trees |
| title_full | Analysis on Unveiling the Natural Dynamics of Parthenocarpy and Self-Compatibility in Apple Trees |
| title_fullStr | Analysis on Unveiling the Natural Dynamics of Parthenocarpy and Self-Compatibility in Apple Trees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis on Unveiling the Natural Dynamics of Parthenocarpy and Self-Compatibility in Apple Trees |
| title_short | Analysis on Unveiling the Natural Dynamics of Parthenocarpy and Self-Compatibility in Apple Trees |
| title_sort | analysis on unveiling the natural dynamics of parthenocarpy and self compatibility in apple trees |
| topic | apple breeding bagging flowers fertilisation fruit set genome-wide association study (GWAS) genetic resources |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1261 |
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