Developing gene-tagged molecular markers for evaluation of genetic association of apple SWEET genes with fruit sugar accumulation

Abstract

Sugar transportation: uncovering fruit sugar regulation in apples Insights into the mechanisms that drive fruit sugar content in apples could help develop and breed apple trees with improved fruit quality. The transportation of sugars throughout fruit plants plays a vital role both in healthy plant development and in the quality of the fruit produced. However, the mechanisms inherent in fruit sugar accumulation are not yet fully understood. Yuepeng Han at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan, China, and co-workers sought to clarify the role of genes encoding SWEET sugar transporters in the cultivated apple, Malus x domestica Borkh. They identified 25 SWEET genes in the apple genome, with 9 of these highly expressed during fruit development. Han’s team narrowed these genes down to two that were highly associated with the regulation of sugar content in the fruit.