Analytical and molecular chararacterization of volatiles in apple fruits

Project

Food and consumer protection

This project contributes to the research aim 'Food and consumer protection'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Food and consumer protection

Project code: JKI-ZGO-08-4144
Contract period: 01.10.2007 - 30.09.2010
Purpose of research: Basic research

Plant volatiles are important secondary metabolites of the apple fruit. These chemical compounds produce typical aroma patterns in different apple cultivars and are responsible for the sensorial fruit quality of apple fruits. The trait is known to underlie complex biochemical and genetic interactions and is often negatively influenced in resistance breeding programmes by the apple progenitors used as resistance gene donors. Therefore, more fundamental knowledge about the biochemistry, analytics and molecular-genetic backgrounds are needed for a more targeted apple breeding towards fruit taste and flavour. The project includes the application of a broad spectrum of different analytical methods (gas chromatography, HPLC, spectroscopy, human sensorial assessments) together with innovative so-called non-targeted methods to characterize and dissect the specific aroma patterns of a single apple genotype. A molecular analysis of apple progenies as well as progenitors and cultivars will be performed by mapping OTL and candidate genes for specific aroma compounds. Allelic diversity of QTL and candidate genes will be determined and conclusions for the function of the genes will be drawn. The final goal is to develop an improved methodology for an efficient marker-based molecular characterization within the frame of biodiversity studies as well as in practical breeding programmes.

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