Citrus Genomics and Breeding: Identification of Candidate Genes by the Use of Mutants and Microarrays

Abstract

The survival of the citrus industry is critically dependent on genetically superior cultivars. Improvements in these traits through traditional techniques are unfortunately extremely difficult due to the unusual combination of biological characteristics of citrus. Genomic science holds promise of improvements in breeding and the main goal of our group is to develop genomics tools for the generation of new genotypes. We pursue the identification of candidate genes, alleles and genotypes improving citrus fruit quality and performance, correlating phenotypic analyses, metabolic profiling and gene expression. At completion, genes and alleles with major functions in nutritional quality and stress tolerance could be selected and genotypes with improved fruit composition searched among existing or generated collections. This goal is supported by two complementary strategies the identification of genes of agricultural interest by the use of mutants and microarrays and the elucidation of the citrus genome sequence. In this communication the efforts we are developing in this first approach are revised while the other strategy will be resumed elsewhere.