Location: Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research
Project Number: 8062-21000-047-001-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 15, 2017
End Date: Sep 14, 2021
Objective:
Take advantage of modern high-resolution tissues section and transcriptome profiling techniques to more finely address the molecular biology and genetic manifestation of tomato fruit ripening.
Approach:
The general approach of this cooperative research project will entail refinement of laser capture micro dissection on developing fruit tissues, which are a challenge as they can be quite fragile particularly in ripe fruit of compromised integrity. This will be the primary Cornell activity. The ARS lab will focus on refinement of transcriptome profiling approaches to be able to work with the small amounts of RNA that can be extracted from more limited sections or laser captured tissues. Considerable germplasm appropriate for this study is available and already in hand in the ARS lab so appropriate genotypes and tissues will not be an issue. Both labs are proficient in creation and high throughput transient or stable expression of DNA constructs for testing function of candidate genes in tomato. The complementary skills and mutual interests of the ARS and Cornell groups make this an ideal collaboration in that the outcomes will be synergistic and advance the scientific objectives of both groups. Better understanding of ripening control will have mid and long term benefits to ARS stakeholders including producers, seed companies, processors, consumers and ultimately US growers.
