Montpellier Scientific Community



Genetic improvement of fruits and vegetables (GAFL)

Director: Mathilde Causse

Research area
The RU Genetic improvement of fruits and vegetables (GAFL) is centred on the exploration of genomes and diversity of genetic resources and breeding methodology for vegetables and stone fruit trees based on four axes: the genetic and molecular bases of fruit quality, the functional characterisation of interactions between plants and biological pests, the sustainability of disease resistances and integration of disease resistance and fruit quality for innovation in genetics.

Research highlights
  • Characterization of the molecular bases of several disease resistance genes including those involved in potyvirus resistance (eIf4e gene family) in Solanaceae, and aphid resistance in melon
  • Participation to the reference genome maps of pepper, potato, eggplant and melon
  • QTL maps for organoleptic quality in tomato fruit
Staff profile
 
Total permanent staff Total Scientists Scientists with "HDR" [1] Post-doc fellows PhD
96
26
5
5
10
[1]French university degree for confirmed thesis supervisor
    
         
Research teams
The unit is divided into four scientific groups:
  • Genetic and molecular basis of fruit quality
  • Functional characterization of plant-pathogen interactions
  • Sustainable management of disease resistances
  • Genome mapping, genetic resources and innovation
Platforms and other tools
  • Technical platform for fruit quality analysis (shared equipment with two other RTRA units for integrated horticulture)
  • Platform for molecular biology shared with 3 other research units of Avignon Center
  • Center for biological resources with short/middle and long term storage of seeds, descriptive databases and catalogues
  • Open fields, greenhouses and growth rooms for plant experiments and large scale phenotyping, including containment greenhouses and rooms for quarantine organisms and GMOs
Most important international partnerships
  • Many collaborations within the Avignon Center with other RU of the Pole for Integrated Horticulture (pathology, ecophysiology, technology, biometry...), but also with other INRA laboratories working on plant disease (Sophia, Rennes, Lyon), fruit quality (Bordeaux, Toulouse, Angers, Nantes), or genomics (Evry)
  • The RU is involved in several EU project involving many EU partners: large integrated projects like EUSOL, ISAFRUIT, BIOEXPLOIT.
  • We coordinate the Concerted action Resistvir Several collaborations with seed companies
Facts and figures
Genetic resources maintenance and evaluation. The RU is in charge of the maintenance and characterization of national genetic resources for the solanaceous vegetables (eggplant, pepper, tomato) the cucurbits, lettuce, and for Mediterranean prunus fruit trees (almond, apricot, and rootstocks).The group has a long experience in plant protection using genetic variability for resistance both qualitative (major genes) and quantitative (QTL) and in genetic dissection of fruit quality traits : components of organoleptic quality (taste, chemicals, texture) and vitamin C. This research extends from assessment of resistance/quality phenotypes to resistance/quality allele mining in germplasm collections.

Genetics and genomics of horticultural traits. Genes and QTLs for resistance/quality traits have been mapped in the genome of the above cited crops. Genes and QTLs of particular interest (pest, virus and fungi resistance, fruit quality and vitamin C) were cloned using candidate gene and/or positional cloning strategies. Expression (transcription) and regulation of these genes are further analysed to understand their impact in the plant phenotype under different environments.

Improvement of quality and disease resistance, cultivar release: The group has also developed marker assisted breeding programs for organoleptic quality in tomato and polygenic disease resistance in pepper. The research of the group also includes the sustainable management of resistant genotypes to escape the resistance breakdown by adapted pathogen populations. Considering major diseases, the group also delivers resistant cultivars through conventional or marker assisted breeding of vegetables and fruit trees, particularly for Mediterranean and tropical regions.
Publications in international ranking journals
2007: 18
2006: 17
2005: 24
Representative publications
Faurobert M., Mihr M., Bertin N., Pawlowski T., Negroni L., Sommerer N., Causse M. 2007. Major proteome variations associated with cherry tomato pericarp development and ripening. Plant Physiology 143: 1327-1346.

Niçaise V., Gallois J.L., Chafiai F., Allen L.M., Schurdi-Levraud V., Browning K.S., Candresse T., Caranta C., Le Gall O., German-Retana S. 2007. Coordinated and selective recruitment of eIF4E and eIF4G factors for potyvirus infection in Arabidopsis thaliana. FEBS Letters 581: 1041-1046.

Stevens R., Buret M., Duffé P., Garchery C., Baldet P., Rothan C., Causse M. 2007. Candidate genes and quantitative trait loci affecting fruit ascorbic acid content in three tomato populations. Plant Physiology 143: 1943-1953.

Robaglia C., Caranta C. 2006. Translation initiation factors: a weak link in plant RNA virus infection. Trends in Plant Science 11: 40-45.

van Os H., Andrzejewski S., Bakker J., Barrena I., Bryan G.J., Caromel B., Ghareeb B., Isidore E., de Jong W., van Koert P., Lefebvre V., Milbourne D., Ritter E., van der Voort J.R., Rousselle-Bourgeois F., van Vliet J., Waugh R., R. V., J. B., van Eck H. 2006. Construction of a 10,000-marker ultradense genetic recombination map of potato: providing a framework for accelerated gene isolation and a genomewide physical map. Genetics 173: 1075-1087.