Identification of Candidate Genes for Green Rind Color in Watermelon
The color of the rind is one of the most crucial agronomic characteristics of watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> L.). Its genetic analysis was conducted to provide the identification of genes regulating rind color and improving the quality of watermelon appearance. In this study, a map...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Wei Zhou Licong Yi Yunqiang Wang Hongsheng Wang Qingke Li Na Wu Zhaoyi Dai |
| author_facet | Wei Zhou Licong Yi Yunqiang Wang Hongsheng Wang Qingke Li Na Wu Zhaoyi Dai |
| author_sort | Wei Zhou |
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| description | The color of the rind is one of the most crucial agronomic characteristics of watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> L.). Its genetic analysis was conducted to provide the identification of genes regulating rind color and improving the quality of watermelon appearance. In this study, a mapping population of 505 F<sub>2</sub> plants, derived from a cross between green (CG058) and light-green (CG265) rinds, along with a high-density genetic linkage (average 0.9 cM distance between bin markers), was used to map and identify possible candidate genes. The green rind trait was determined to be regulated by a single Mendelian locus and was precisely located within a 110 kb genomic site on chromosome nine (Chr 9). In the respective region, two potential genes, <i>Cla97C09G175170</i> and <i>Cla97C09G175180</i>, were substantially downregulated in the light-green rind in comparison to the green rind. Previous studies revealed that <i>Cla97C09G175170</i>, encoding a two-component response regulator-like protein (APRR2), is possibly involved in the green rind trait in watermelon. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay confirmed that <i>ClAPRR2</i> is a key gene responsible for green rind color. Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcription levels of multiple key genes in the chlorophyll (Chl) biosynthesis pathway were downregulated in the light-green rind relative to the green rind. The current findings have the potential to clarify the regulatory mechanisms that underlie the color of the watermelon rind. These data would provide valuable insights for the targeted molecular design and development of watermelon rinds. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-23e5620c6e2944c890af2c39ae722ab02025-01-10T13:19:47ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114111310.3390/plants14010113Identification of Candidate Genes for Green Rind Color in WatermelonWei Zhou0Licong Yi1Yunqiang Wang2Hongsheng Wang3Qingke Li4Na Wu5Zhaoyi Dai6Hubei Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Enhancement and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Industrial Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Enhancement and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Industrial Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Enhancement and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Industrial Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Enhancement and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Industrial Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Enhancement and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Industrial Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Enhancement and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Industrial Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Enhancement and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Industrial Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, ChinaThe color of the rind is one of the most crucial agronomic characteristics of watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> L.). Its genetic analysis was conducted to provide the identification of genes regulating rind color and improving the quality of watermelon appearance. In this study, a mapping population of 505 F<sub>2</sub> plants, derived from a cross between green (CG058) and light-green (CG265) rinds, along with a high-density genetic linkage (average 0.9 cM distance between bin markers), was used to map and identify possible candidate genes. The green rind trait was determined to be regulated by a single Mendelian locus and was precisely located within a 110 kb genomic site on chromosome nine (Chr 9). In the respective region, two potential genes, <i>Cla97C09G175170</i> and <i>Cla97C09G175180</i>, were substantially downregulated in the light-green rind in comparison to the green rind. Previous studies revealed that <i>Cla97C09G175170</i>, encoding a two-component response regulator-like protein (APRR2), is possibly involved in the green rind trait in watermelon. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay confirmed that <i>ClAPRR2</i> is a key gene responsible for green rind color. Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the transcription levels of multiple key genes in the chlorophyll (Chl) biosynthesis pathway were downregulated in the light-green rind relative to the green rind. The current findings have the potential to clarify the regulatory mechanisms that underlie the color of the watermelon rind. These data would provide valuable insights for the targeted molecular design and development of watermelon rinds.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/1/113watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> L.)fine mappingrind color<i>ClAPRR2</i> |
| spellingShingle | Wei Zhou Licong Yi Yunqiang Wang Hongsheng Wang Qingke Li Na Wu Zhaoyi Dai Identification of Candidate Genes for Green Rind Color in Watermelon Plants watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> L.) fine mapping rind color <i>ClAPRR2</i> |
| title | Identification of Candidate Genes for Green Rind Color in Watermelon |
| title_full | Identification of Candidate Genes for Green Rind Color in Watermelon |
| title_fullStr | Identification of Candidate Genes for Green Rind Color in Watermelon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of Candidate Genes for Green Rind Color in Watermelon |
| title_short | Identification of Candidate Genes for Green Rind Color in Watermelon |
| title_sort | identification of candidate genes for green rind color in watermelon |
| topic | watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> L.) fine mapping rind color <i>ClAPRR2</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/1/113 |
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