Biology subjects

Sanchez-Sevilla, J. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Sanchez-Sevilla, J. F..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Uncovering the genetic basis of fruit volatiles in Fragaria vesca through GWAS reveals FvJMT2 as a methyl benzoate biosynthesis gene with insect-repellent function

Strawberry aroma is a key component of fruit quality, influencing consumer preferences and playing important ecological roles, including plant defense. However, the genetic basis of volatile organic compound (VOC) biosynthesis remains only partially understood, particularly in the wild woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca, which has enormous potential to uncover genetic diversity within the genus for improving the commercial strawberries. Here, we performed Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) across a diverse European collection of F. vesca accessions. We identified multiple novel candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of diverse volatile esters, lactones, terpenoids, and methyl ketones. Among them, we characterized FvJMT2, a SABATH family methyltransferase which we found associated with natural variation in benzenoid esters content. Transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana and strawberry fruit confirmed its role in methyl benzoate biosynthesis, while enzymatic assays demonstrated that FvJMT2 encodes a promiscuous enzyme capable of methylating not only benzoic acid, but also cinnamic, salicylic, and jasmonic acids. Behavioral assays revealed that methyl benzoate at physiologically relevant concentrations significantly reduced the attraction of Drosophila suzukii flies, supporting a dual role of this VOC in both flavor and pest deterrence. Finally, natural variation analyses in wild Fragaria species and F. x ananassa cultivars showed that benzenoid esters have been largely lost in modern cultivars but retained in ancient and wild accessions. Altogether, this study provides novel insights into the genetics and ecological relevance of strawberry volatiles and identifies candidate loci and alleles for future studies.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2025

Novel substrate affinity of FaCCR1 and FaCCR1/FaOCT4 expression control the content of medium-chain esters in strawberry fruit

Fruit flavor and aroma are influenced by the sugars-to-acid ratio and most importantly by the specific profile and abundance of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While over 550 VOCs have been identified in strawberry fruit, fewer than 20 are believed to be key for aroma, being esters the major components. A major and stable quantitative trait locus (QTL) explaining a large percentage (40%) of phenotypic variation for several medium-chain esters (MCE) was mapped at about 19 Mb in chromosome 6A using both a biparental population and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Using a combination of genetic mapping, global transcriptomic studies of bulked contrasting lines, and in vivo and in silico functional analyses, we identified the cinnamoyl Co-A reductase FaCCR1(6A) and the organic cation/carnitine transporter FaOCT4(6A) as underlying genes. Subcellular localization experiments indicated that FaCCR1(6A) and FaOCT4(6A) localize at the cytosol and tonoplast membrane respectively. Transient overexpression of FaCCR1(6A) and FaOCT4(6A) in fruits resulted in a significant increase in MCE content. Despite the well-described function of CCRs in the biosynthesis of monolignols, in vitro enzymatic assays and molecular docking revealed that FaCCR1(6A) also presents high affinity for MCE precursors, indicating a previously unidentified function of this protein in volatile biosynthesis. Based in our findings, we have developed a predictive KASP assay in FaOCT4(6A) for selecting superior cultivars with enhanced fruit aroma.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Late Quaternary climatic impact on the woodland strawberry genome: a perennial herb's tale

Exploring a species paleohistory is crucial for understanding its responsiveness to climatic events, identifying drivers of adaptation, and developing effective biodiversity conservation strategies in the face of ongoing climate change. We analyzed 200 genomes of the perennial herb woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) from across Europe and investigated the population structure and demographic history of the species during past geoclimatic events. We found a clear division of populations into western and eastern genetic clusters, indicative of distinct glacial refugia and adaptations to variation in temperature seasonality. The eastern core populations were several times larger (defined as effective population size, NE) than populations in other regions, showed no evidence of inbreeding, and were resilient to several glacial maxima. However, we observed decreasing NE and higher inbreeding in populations toward range edges, particularly in the north, where these individuals went through bottlenecks during glaciations. Population divergence suggested that western and eastern Europe were colonized from separate refugia in multiple waves during the Holocene, while the largest current populations from the northern Mediterranean to southern regions of the Nordic countries formed a connected population chain with gene flow between eastern core populations and western Europe, primarily occurring through Central Europe. Similar patterns of colonization and hybridization may have occurred during past interglacial periods, contributing to the present-day population structure of woodland strawberry. We suggest that the unprecedented resolution of the species climatic history across six glacial-interglacial cycles presented here holds the promise of transforming the general understanding of species paleohistory through geoclimatically tracing ancestral haplotypes.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Strawberry phenotypic plasticity in flowering time is driven by interaction between genetic loci and temperature

The flowering time, which determines when the fruits or seeds can be harvested, is known to be sensitive to plasticity, i.e. the ability of a genotype to display different phenotypes in response to environmental variations. In the context of climate change, strawberry breeding can take advantage of phenotypic plasticity to create high-performing varieties adapted either to local conditions or to a wide range of climates. To decipher how the environment affects the genetic architecture of flowering time in cultivated strawberry (Fragaria xananassa) and modify its QTL effects, we used a bi-parental segregating population grown for two years at widely divergent latitudes (5 European countries) and combined climatic variables with genomic data (Affymetrix(R) SNP array). We detected 10 unique flowering time QTL and demonstrated that temperature modulates the effect of plasticity-related QTL. We propose candidate genes for the three main plasticity QTL, including FaTFL1 which is the most relevant candidate in the interval of the major temperature-sensitive QTL (6D_M). We further designed and validated a genetic marker for the 6D_M QTL which offers great potential for breeding programs, for example for selecting of early-flowering strawberry varieties well adapted to different environmental conditions. HighlightsA GXE study of a segregating strawberry population in Europe showed that temperature is the main driver of flowering time plasticity. A genetic marker was designed for the main QTL.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2020

Allelic Variation of MYB10 is the Major Force Controlling Natural Variation of Skin and Flesh Color in Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) fruit

Anthocyanins are the principal color-producing compounds synthesized in developing fruits of strawberry (Fragaria spp.). Substantial natural variation in color have been observed in fruits of diploid and octoploid accessions, resulting from distinct accumulation and distribution of anthocyanins in fruits. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is controlled by a clade of R2R3 MYB transcription factors, among which MYB10 has been shown as the main activator in strawberry fruit. Here, we show that MYB10 mutations cause most of the anthocyanin variation observed in diploid woodland strawberry (F. vesca) and octoploid cultivated strawberry (F. xananassa). Using a mapping-by-sequencing approach, we identified a gypsy-transposon insertion in MYB10 that truncates the protein and knocks out anthocyanin biosynthesis in a white-fruited F. vesca ecotype. Two additional loss-of-function MYB10 mutations were identified among geographically diverse white-fruited F. vesca ecotypes. Genetic and transcriptomic analyses in octoploid Fragaria spp. revealed that FaMYB10-2, one of three MYB10 homoeologs identified, residing in the F. iinumae-derived subgenome, regulates the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in developing fruit. Furthermore, independent mutations in MYB10-2 are the underlying cause of natural variation in fruit skin and flesh color in octoploid strawberry. We identified a CACTA-like transposon (FaEnSpm-2) insertion in the MYB10-2 promoter of red-fleshed accessions that was associated with enhanced expression and anthocyanin accumulation. Our findings suggest that putative cis regulatory elements provided by FaEnSpm-2 are required for high and ectopic MYB10-2 expression and induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis in fruit flesh. We developed MYB10-2 (sub-genome) specific DNA markers for marker-assisted selection that accurately predicted anthocyanin phenotypes in octoploid segregating populations.

plant biology↗