Molecular Characterization and Gene Expression Analysis of Lycopene Gene From Different Varieties of Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum)

Abstract

For present work six genotype of Lycopersicon esculentum were collected from IIVR V aranas and the plants were maintained in the pots of Department of Biotechnology, S.V.P University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. To access the genetic diversity of 6 genotypes of L. esculentum, 25 SSR and Lycopene gene specific primers were used of which 24 primers gave amplification. The UPGMA based dendrogram grouped the 6 genotypes into two main distinct clusters. The lowest similarity displayed by FLA-7421with 2011EC538156 and Pusa Rohini with Punjab Chhuhara. On the other hand BT-12 and Pusa Rohini displayed the greatest genetic similarity. The expression profiles of lycopene gene were studied at three stages of fruit development viz. green stage, turning red stage and mature bright red tomato stage with two primers i.e. for PTOX gene and for L YC gene. The green stage of tomato shows the low level of expression, yellow shows the medium level of expression while red stage of tomato shows the highest level of expression of above mentioned genes. The Lycopene was identified and quantified from the mature fruit of six tomato variety. The amount of lycopene varied from lower value of 0.06 mg.gfw"1 to a higher value of 0.111 mg.gfw-1 in BT -12 and 20 11 EC respectively.