ARS | Publication request: MAPPING OF MAJOR CARROT COLOR GENES AN EX EXPRESSION OF CAROTENOID BIOSYNTHETIC GENES

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 16, 2004
Publication Date: November 20, 2004
Citation: Just, B., Simon, P.W. 2004. Mapping of major carrot color genes an ex expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes [abstract]. Hortscience. 39:870.

Technical Abstract: While the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway has been studied several horticultural and agronomic crops, very little information exists for this conserved pathway in carrot, a primary source of dietary carotenoids. Though orange carrot are the most familiar color to Western consumers, yellow, red, and white carrots also exist and have been historically important. Modern carrot breeders are showing renewed interest in these unusual color phenotypes. Beta- and alpha-carotene are the primary pigments in orange carrot roots. Yellow carrots accumulate xanthophylls (oxygenated carotenes), red carrots accumulate lycopene (the precursor to alpha-and beta-carotene) and white carrots accumulate no detectable pigments. Differences between these phenotypes are usually monogenic or oligogenic. Our research has focused on identifying putative genes for carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes in the carrot genome, mapping them, and examining expression patterns, in various issues and carrot root pigment phenotypes. We are using this information to create a carrot pigment biosynthesis function map incorporating biosynthetic enzymes, major carrot color genes, and gene expression information.