Benoit Jean-Marc Gorguet: "The genetics of seedless tomato"

  News
  Newsroom
  Dossiers
  Archive
  Calendar
  2012
  2011
  2010
  2009
  2008
  2007
  2006
  2005
  2004
  2003
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
  News
  RSS
  Calendar
  Open days
  Courses
  Congresses and symposia
  PhD-graduations and speeches

16 Nov 2007 13:30
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof. L.F. Vincent (Irrigation and Water Engineering)
Co Promotor: Dr.ir. A.W. van Heusden

 The development of fruits in absence of pollination is known as parthenocarpy and as a consequence the fruits are seedless.
In tomato, the main limiting factor of the development of fruits is the sensitivity of the pollen to harsh environmental conditions. Parthenocarpy, for which functional pollen are not necessary, represents an interesting way to solve this problem.
We have identified two sets of parthenocarpy genes in wild tomato accessions. Tomato lines carrying one of these sets will produce seedless fruits in absence of pollination and seeded fruits if pollination takes place. In order to obtain a homogenous seedless production, facultative parthenocarpy has to be combined with functional sterility. In our study we have characterized and isolated a gene conferring non-dehiscent anthers. With such a gene, the pollen, produced in the anther bags, are not released, and subsequently there is no pollination. As a result a tomato line combining a set of parthenocarpy genes and the functional sterility gene will uniformly produce seedless tomatoes. If seeds are needed, the pollen can be released mechanically.
Print this activity