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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212884
Title: Development of Mapping Populations for Avocado.

Author
item Tondo, Cecile
item Borrone, James
item Kuhn, David
item Brown, James
item VIOLI, HELEN - UNIV OF FL, IFAS
item PLOETZ, RANDY - UNIV OF FL, IFAS
item Schnell Ii, Raymond

Submitted to: Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2007
Publication Date: 8/20/2007
Citation: Tondo, C.T., Borrone, J.W., Kuhn, D.N., Brown, J.S., Violi, H.A., Ploetz, R., Schnell Ii, R.J. 2007. Development of Mapping Populations for Avocado. Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society. 120:26-29

Interpretive Summary: The production of a genetic linkage map will lead to a better understanding of the genetics of avocado. Breeding of avocado can be greatly aided by the use of this genetic linkage map. A genetic linkage map for avocado can be generated by doing molecular marker assays on populations of avocados with a known family structure. Currently there are over 300 microsatellite markers for avocado. Two experimental families will be used: one from Florida and one from California. The family from Florida consists of approximately 2000 individuals grown from seed harvested from a commercial grove in South Miami-Dade County Florida. The family from California consists of approximately 2000 individuals grown from seed harvested from a commercial grove in Ventura county California. These families will be verified and evaluated for traits such as productivity, fruit quality and cold tolerance. Linkage analysis will be performed on the molecular data in order to generate the linkage map. QTL analysis will be.

Technical Abstract: A saturated genetic linkage map can aid greatly in efforts to improve avocado (Persea Americana Mill.) via breeding using a Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) approach. A genetic linkage map for avocado can be generated using molecular genetic markers and a known family structure. Currently, approximately 300 microsatellite markers have been developed for avocado. This number of microsatellite markers should give suitable coverage for the avocado genome. Two experimental families have been identified: a Florida mapping population [West Indian x (Guatemalan x West Indian)] of 1926 seeds harvested from a commercial grove in south Miami-Dade County, Florida, and a California mapping population [Mexican x (Guatemalan x Mexican)] of 2030 seeds harvested from a commercial grove in Ventura County, California. Phenotypic evaluation of the mapping population will allow the identification of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) that is associated with important horticultural traits including productivity, fruit quality and cold tolerance. The production of a saturated linkage map will lead to a better understanding of the avocado genome. QTL will be used in a MAS program that is being established.