Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Laricchia, Kristen [1], Zerega, Nyree J.C. [1], Wickett, Norman [2].

Transcriptome Analysis of Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) to Reveal Impacts of Domestication.

Underutilized crops have the potential to economically benefit developing countries and to improve global food security. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg, Moraceae) is one such crop that can provide essential nutrients and calories and requires low-energy input to maintain. Many cultivars of breadfruit have been selected since its domestication began approximately 3,500 years ago. Humans transported breadfruit cultivars and dispersed them throughout the islands of Oceania. Although it is thought that humans selected for fewer seeded, smoother-skinned fruit during the domestication of breadfruit, it is unclear whether other, less obvious or unintended traits may have been influenced by the process. Here, we present an analysis of 25 transcriptomes of breadfruit and its wild relatives to reveal patterns correlated with a gradient of characters associated with domestication. We are particularly interested in those characters that may indicate positive selection in pathways related to desirable traits, such as the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The goal of this research is to provide a better understanding of the genomic effects of the domestication process and, ultimately, to develop genomic resources that may facilitate the development of improved cultivars in the future.

1 - Northwestern University, Program In Biological Sciences, 2205 Tech Drive, 2-144 Hogan Hall, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
2 - Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Apt 2, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA

Keywords:
breadfruit
Transcriptome
domestication
Artocarpus
moraceae
underutilized crop.

Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P
Location: /
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT023
Abstract ID:1261
Candidate for Awards:None