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Biology subjects

de Oliveira, G. L.

Publications and source records attributed to de Oliveira, G. L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Uncovering the molecular signatures of russet skin formation in Niagara grapevine (Vitis vinifera x Vitis labrusca)

Grape breeding programs are mostly focused on developing new varieties with high production volume, sugar contents, and phenolic compound diversity combined with resistance and tolerance to the main pathogens under culture and adverse environmental conditions. The Niagara variety (Vitis labrusca x Vitis vinifera) is one of the most widely produced and commercialized table grapes in Brazil. In this work, we selected three Niagara somatic variants with contrasting berry phenotypes and performed morphological and transcriptomic analyses of their berries. Histological sections of the berries were also performed to understand anatomical and chemical composition differences of the berry skin between the genotypes. An RNA-Seq pipeline was implemented, followed by global coexpression network modeling. Niagara Steck, an intensified russet mutant with the most extreme phenotype, showed the largest difference in expression and showed selection of coexpressed network modules involved in the development of its russet-like characteristics. Enrichment analysis of differently expressed genes and hub network modules revealed differences in transcription regulation, auxin signaling and cell wall and plasmatic membrane biogenesis. Cutin- and suberin-related genes were also differently expressed, supporting the anatomical differences observed with microscopy.

bioinformatics↗

Genetic Diversity, Population Structure and Parentage Analysis in Brazilian Grapevine Hybrids after Half a Century of Genetic Breeding

In the 1940s, the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC) started a grapevine breeding program to develop new cultivars adapted to the tropical and subtropical regions of Brazil. More than 2,000 crosses were carried out over 50 years, using 850 varieties as parents. However, among the thousands of hybrids developed by the program, only 130 are still maintained in the IAC grapevine germplasm collection. Little is known about their genetic makeup and usefulness for current breeding programs. In this study, we genotyped 130 Brazilian grape hybrids at 21 polymorphic microsatellite markers to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of the hybrids and verified their disclosed pedigrees. The results showed that the hybrid collection is highly diverse, with an expected heterozygosity (HE) of 0.80 and an observed heterozygosity (Ho) of 0.78. Strong structure in three subgroups based mainly on the usage and combination of parental groups was revealed by STRUCTURE software and confirmed by discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC). Through molecular profiling analysis, fourteen synonyms, one homonym and one duplicate were identified. Parentage analysis confirmed 24 full parentages, as well as 33 half-kinships. In addition, 18 pedigrees were invalidated, and seven mislabeling events were identified. No compatible parent was identified for 33% of the IAC hybrids, highlighting severe genetic erosion in the IAC germplasm. The molecular characterization of the breeding hybrid bank collection contributes to our understanding of the genetic basis of the varieties, guiding the efficient utilization of available genetic diversity. Together, our results could be applied to other breeding programs and assist in the selection of parents, management of the breeding collection, and conservation of grapevine genetic resources.

molecular biology↗

Genetic structure and molecular diversity of Brazilian grapevine germplasm: management and use in the breeding programs

The management of germplasm banks is complex, especially when many accessions are involved. Microsatellite markers are an efficient tool for assessing the genetic diversity of germplasm collections, optimizing their use in breeding programs. This study genetically characterizes a large collection of 410 grapevine accessions maintained at the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC) (Brazil). The accessions were genotyped with 17 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. Genetic data were analyzed to determine the genetic structure of the germplasm, quantify its allelic diversity, suggest the composition of a core collection, and discover cases of synonymy, duplication, and misnaming. A total of 304 alleles were obtained, and 334 unique genotypes were identified. The molecular profiles of 145 accessions were confirmed according to the literature and databases, and the molecular profiles of more than 100 genotypes were reported for the first time. The analysis of the genetic structure revealed different levels of stratification. The primary division was between accessions related to Vitis vinifera and V. labrusca, followed by their separation from wild grapevine. A core collection of 120 genotypes captured 100% of all detected alleles. The accessions selected for the core collection may be used in future phenotyping efforts, in genome association studies, and for conservation purposes. Genetic divergence among accessions has practical applications in grape breeding programs, as the choice of relatively divergent parents will maximize the frequency of progeny with superior characteristics. Together, our results can enhance the management of grapevine germplasm and guide the efficient exploitation of genetic diversity to facilitate the development of new grape cultivars for fresh fruits, wine, and rootstock.

molecular biology↗