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A micro RNA allele that emerged prior to apple domestication may underlie fruit size evolution
Author(s) -
Yao JiaLong,
Xu Juan,
Cornille Amandine,
Tomes Sumathi,
Karunairetnam Sakuntala,
Luo Zhiwei,
Bassett Heather,
Whitworth Claire,
ReesGeorge Jonathan,
Ranatunga Chandra,
Snirc Alodie,
Crowhurst Ross,
Silva Nihal,
Warren Ben,
Deng Cecilia,
Kumar Satish,
Chagné David,
Bus Vincent G. M.,
Volz Richard K.,
Rikkerink Erik H. A.,
Gardiner Susan E.,
Giraud Tatiana,
MacDiarmid Robin,
Gleave Andrew P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/tpj.13021
Subject(s) - biology , domestication , allele , population , trait , transposable element , perennial plant , genetics , quantitative trait locus , gene , botany , genome , demography , sociology , computer science , programming language
Summary The molecular genetic mechanisms underlying fruit size remain poorly understood in perennial crops, despite size being an important agronomic trait. Here we show that the expression level of a micro RNA gene ( mi RNA 172 ) influences fruit size in apple. A transposon insertional allele of mi RNA 172 showing reduced expression associates with large fruit in an apple breeding population, whereas over‐expression of mi RNA 172 in transgenic apple significantly reduces fruit size. The transposon insertional allele was found to be co‐located with a major fruit size quantitative trait locus, fixed in cultivated apples and their wild progenitor species with relatively large fruit. This finding supports the view that the selection for large size in apple fruit was initiated prior to apple domestication, likely by large mammals, before being subsequently strengthened by humans, and also helps to explain why signatures of genetic bottlenecks and selective sweeps are normally weaker in perennial crops than in annual crops.