Montpellier Scientific Community



Genetic improvement of fruits and vegetables (GAFL)

Director: Mathilde Causse
Website:
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
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.
Staff profile

Research org.

Researchers

Professors

Research Eng.

Techn. and Admin. staff

PhD
INRA Avignon
15
26
5
5
10
Research teams
The unit is divided into six scientific groups:
- Diversity, Quality and Environment in Tomato (Qualitom)
- Genetics and Integrative Innovation in Prunus (G2IP)
- Genetic Ressources in vegetable species (CRBLeg)
- Durable Resistance in Solanaceae (RDS)
- Virus Resistances (ReV)
- Resistance and Reproduction in Melon (Melo)
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
Publications in international ranking journals
2010: 22
2005 - 2009:109
Representative publications
Robaglia C., Caranta C. 2006. Translation initiation factors: a weak link in plant RNA virus infection. Trends in Plant Science 11: 40-45.

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.

Ranc N., Muños S., Santoni S., Causse M. (2008) A clarified position for Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme in the evolutionary history of tomatoes (Solanaceae). BMC Plant Biol 8: 130.

Boualem A., Fergany M., Fernandez R., Troadec C., Martin A., Morin H., Sari M.A., Colin F., Flowers J.M., Pitrat M., Purugganan M.D., Dogimont C., Bendahmane A. (2008) A conserved mutation in an ethylene biosynthesis enzyme leads to andromonoecy in melons. Science 321: 836-838.

Palloix A., Ayme V., Moury B. (2009) Durability of plant major resistance genes to pathogens depends on the genetic background, experimental evidence and consequences for breeding strategies. New Phytol 183: 190-199

Martin A., Troadec C., Boualem A., Rajab M., Fernandez R., Morin H., Pitrat M., Dogimont C., Bendahmane A. (2009) A transposon-induced epigenetic change leads to sex determination in melon. Nature 461: 1135-U1237.

Sallaud C., Rontein D., Jabès S., Duffé P., Giacalone C., Thoraval S., Escoffier C., Herbette G., Leonhardt N., Causse M. (2009) A novel pathway for sesquiterpene biosynthesis from Z,Z-farnesyl pyrophosphate in the wild tomato Solanum habrochaites. Plant Cell 21: 301-307.

Génard M., Bertin N., Gautier H., Lescourret F., Quilot B. (2010) Virtual profiling: a new way to analyse phenotypes. Plant J 62: 344-355.

Patents
Dogimont C., Bendahmane A., Pitrat M., Burget-Bigeard E., Hagen L., Le Menn A., Pauquet J., Rousselle P., Caboche M., Chovelon V. (2007) Gène de résistance à Aphis gossypii. N° PCT/FR2004/000050, 31p + annexes.

Bendahmane A., Boualem A., Troadec C., Martin A., Dogimont C. (2008) Combinaison de deux éléments génétiques pour le contrôle du développement du type floral d'une plante dicotylédone, et mise en oeuvre dans des procédés de détection et de sélection N° FR 2934277 - WO 2010012948, 84 p.

Poëssel J.L., Collet M.H., Rahbé Y. (2008) Procédé de préparation d'acides dicaféoylquiniques et leur utilisation contre les pucerons. N° 08/00561, 32 p.

Caromel B., Chauvin L., Kerlan M.C., Aarrouf J., Speck A., Lefebvre V. (2009) Gène GpaV de résistance aux nématodes chez les Solanacées. N° 09 06432, (déposé le 31/12/2009).
Total annual budget
2008 2009 2010
Total annual budget (excluding salaries) 1 784 415 1 890 821 1 727 362
External contracts :
ANR
194 163
291 188 301 329 
EU
551 892
387 638
261 913
Private sector
44 836
61 932
35 667
Others 559 536 505 779 661 780