Molecules and Cells

Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (한국분자세포생물학회)
권호 표지

Marker-assisted Genotype Analysis of Bulb Colors in Segregating Populations of Onions (Allium cepa)

  • Kim, Sunggil (Biotech Application Team, Dongbu Advanced Research Institute, Dongbu Hannong Chemicals Co., Ltd.) ;
  • Bang, Haejeen (Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University) ;
  • Yoo, Kil-Sun (Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University) ;
  • Pike, Leonard M. (Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University)
  • Received : 2006.11.22
  • Accepted : 2007.02.12
  • Published : 2007.04.30
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Abstract

Bulb color in onions (Allium cepa) is an important trait whose complex inheritance mechanism involves epistatic interactions among major color-related loci. Recent studies revealed that inactivation of dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway was responsible for the color differences between yellow and red onions, and two recessive alleles of the anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) gene were responsible for a pink bulb color. Based on mutations in the recessive alleles of these two genes, PCR-based markers for allelic selection were developed. In this study, genotype analysis of onions from segregating populations was carried out using these PCR-based markers. Segregating populations were derived from the cross between yellow and red onions. Five yellow and thirteen pink bulbs from one segregating breeding line were genotyped for the two genes. Four pink bulbs were heterozygous for the DFR gene, which explains the continuous segregation of yellow and pink colors in this line. Most pink onions were homozygous recessive for the ANS gene, except for two heterozygotes. This finding indicated that the homozygous recessive ANS gene was primarily responsible for the pink color in this line. The two pink onions, heterozygous for the ANS gene, were also heterozygous for the DFR gene, which indicated that the pink color was produced by incomplete dominance of a red color gene over that of yellow. One pink line and six other segregating breeding lines were also analyzed. The genotyping results matched perfectly with phenotypic color segregation.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Grant : Designing Foods for Health

Supported by : Vegetable & Fruit Improvement Center

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