Molecular and biochemical characterization of lipoxygenase candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of flavour-related volatiles in cultivated apple (Malus x domestica)

• Applicants: Dr. Frank Dunemann; Professor Dr. Wilfried Schwab
• Subject Area: Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology
• Term: from 2010 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 164968630

Lipoxygenases (LOX) catalyze the addition of molecular oxygen to polyunsaturated fatty acids to produce their respective hydroperoxides and have many different putative physiological functions in higher plants. The LOX reaction provides the substrates, e.g. for the formation of aroma-active C6-aldehydes as well as hexyl and hexenyl esters that decisively shape the aroma pattern of ripe and stored apple fruits. Therefore, the focus of the project will be on the characterization of the LOX gene family in apple to investigate for the first time crucial steps of the aroma formation in fruits of the cultivated apple with an interdisciplinary approach using molecular genetic and biochemical methods. Preliminary data obtained from QTL analyses and candidate gene mapping approaches have confirmed that lipoxygenase (LOX) is an important gene which determines aroma profiles of apple genotypes. Available Malus databases will be screened for LOX nucleotide sequences. LOX genes belonging to different subclasses of the gene family will be cloned by PCR-based strategies and genetically mapped in the Malus genome. Temporal and spatial expression patterns will be determined and candidate genes functionally characterized by heterologous expression systems (E. coli, Nicotiana, Fragaria). The data will finally be used to develop functional markers to support molecular breeding and to enable a more efficient documentation of biodiversity of aroma patterns in Malus gene bank accessions, apple varieties and breeding material lifting the selection of suitable crossing partners to a new efficiency level.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants