Decoding the volatile aroma of tomato
This exciting project is in collaboration with Dr. Denise Tieman at the Univeristy of Florida. Tomatoes are an important source of nutrition worldwide, providing vitamins and minerals to the diet. Lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes, is an antioxidant and has been shown to play a role in prevention of cancer. Although tomatoes are an important part of the diet, consumers are often displeased with the flavor of modern commercial tomatoes. Better tasting tomatoes would result in increased consumption and improved consumer health. This project will utilize the natural diversity in tomato varieties, to better understand the biochemical bases of tomato flavor. Volatile aroma compounds are key contributors to tomato flavor; however, the biochemical pathways to many aroma compounds are unknown. This project will develop improved tools for identifying the enzymes and genes for the missing steps in these pathways. Identifying these missing components will ultimately facilitate breeding for new varieties with improved flavor. In addition, the next generation of scientists will be trained in current methods of biochemistry, genetics and genomics. Bioinformatics workshops for high school biology and math teachers will improve education and create interest in careers in STEM fields.
The main goal of this research project is to validate and characterize novel genes in tomato fruit volatile production by applying integrative genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches. We will use the information from the improved GWAS and bi-parental mapping studies to prioritize candidate genes for specific fruit volatile loci. The proposed experiments conducted in tomato are expected to facilitate research on biochemical pathways in other crops as well. To decipher the molecular genetic basis of important fruit volatile pathways in tomato, we propose the following specific aims:Aim 1: CRISPR-Cas9 knock outs of volatile compound candidate genes from GWAS.Aim 2: Map and fine map loci that affect volatile accumulation in segregating populations.Aim 3: Functional analyses of the genes and loci underlying the GWAS and QTL.
This project is funded by the National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program IOS 2151032
