Abstract
Because of its known phytochemical activity and benefits for human health, American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon L.) production and commercialization around the world has gained importance in recent years. Flavonoid compounds as well as the balance of sugars and acids are key quality characteristics of fresh and processed cranberry products. In this study, we identified novel QTL that influence total anthocyanin content (TAcy), titratable acidity (TA), proanthocyanidin content (PAC), Brix, and mean fruit weight (MFW) in cranberry fruits. Using repeated measurements over the fruit ripening period, different QTLs were identified at specific time points that coincide with known chemical changes during fruit development and maturation. Some genetic regions appear to be regulating more than one trait. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of digital imaging as a reliable, inexpensive and high-throughput strategy for the quantification of anthocyanin content in cranberry fruits. Using this imaging approach, we identified a set of QTLs across three different breeding populations which collocated with anthocyanin QTL identified using wet-lab approaches. We demonstrate the use of a high-throughput, reliable and highly accessible imaging strategy for predicting anthocyanin content based on cranberry fruit color, which could have a large impact for both industry and cranberry research.
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Acknowledgements
This project was supported by USDA-SRCI Grant 2008-51180-04878; USDA-NIFA-AFRI 2013-67013-21107; USDA-ARS (Project Nos. 3655-21220-001-00 and 5090-21220-003-00 provided to J.Z.); WI-DATCP (SCBG Project #14 − 002); Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.; Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association; NJ Cranberry and Blueberry Research Council; Cranberry Institute. LDG and GCP were supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Mexico). LDG was also supported by the UW-Madison Gabelman-Seminis Distinguished Graduate Research Fellowship. BS was supported by the UW-Madison Frank B. Koller Cranberry Fellowship Fund for Graduate Students. AM was supported by the UW-Madison Biotechnology Training Program (BTP), National Institutes of Health training Grant (NIH 5 T32 GM08349; http://www.nih.gov/). We thank Eric Weisman for all his help in the lab, and also thank Cranberry Creek Cranberries Inc., Necedah, WI, USA for their collaboration and support during this project. J.Z. and B.S. wish to express their gratitude through 1 Cor 10:31. We thank the anonymous reviewers who helped enhance the quality of this paper.
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Designed the research: LDG, NV, JJC, JZ and BS. Contributed the mapping populations and performed part of the phenotyping: NV, JJC, and EG. Performed the experiment: LDG, BS and GCP. Analyzed the data: LDG and AM. Wrote the manuscript: LDG, BS and JZ. All coauthors reviewed and approved the final version of this manuscript.
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The experiments in this manuscript compiled with the current laws of the country in which they were performed.
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Diaz-Garcia, L., Schlautman, B., Covarrubias-Pazaran, G. et al. Massive phenotyping of multiple cranberry populations reveals novel QTLs for fruit anthocyanin content and other important chemical traits. Mol Genet Genomics 293, 1379–1392 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-018-1464-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-018-1464-z