Fine-mapping and validation of the genomic region underpinning pear red skin colour

Abstract

Crop genetics: What makes a pear red? Researchers in New Zealand have produced a map of genetic variants linked with red skin color in pears, opening the door to identifying the genes responsible. Satish Kumar and others at the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited measured the skin color of 550 hybrid pear seedlings and sequenced their genomes. Combining these data produced a map of 7,500 variants throughout the genome and identified those associated with red skin color. The most significant variant accounted for about 15% of the color variation. Further analysis of that genomic region revealed several genes which might be related to red skin color. The genomic map produced by this study will improve breeding efficiency by making it possible to screen seedlings for fruit color, but further research is necessary to characterize the candidate genes.