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Abstract : Plant genome analyses, including Arabidopsis thaliana showed a large gene family of plant receptor kinases with various extracellular ligand-binding domain. Now intensively studies to understand physiological and cellular functions for higher plant receptor kinases in diverse and complex biological processes including plant growth, development, ligands perception including steroid hormone and plant-microbe interactions. Brassinosteroids (BRs) as a one of well know steroid hormone are plant growth hormones that control biomass accumulation and also tolerance to many biotic and abiotic stress conditions and hence are of relevance to agriculture. BRI1 receptor kinase, which is localized in plasma membrane in the cell sense BRs and it bind to a receptor protein known as BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1). Recently, we reported that BRI1 and its co-receptor, BRI1-ASSOCIATED KINASE (BAK1) autophosphorylated on tyrosine residue (s) in vitro and in vivo and thus are dual-specificity kinases. Other plant receptor kinases are also phosphorylated on tyrosine residue (s). Post-translational modifications (PTMs) can be studied by altering the residue modified by directed mutagenesis to mimic the modified state or to prevent the modification. These approaches are useful to not only characterize the regulatory role of a given modification, but may also provide opportunities for plant improvement.

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Abstract : Powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) commonly occurs in cultivated fields of melon (Cucumis melo L.). It inflicts a lot of damages. Therefore, breeding resistant lines is essential. Development of a resistant line by integrating resistance gene takes a long time. In addition, break down of developed resistance by generating new virulent fungus strains increases disease susceptibility. This phenomenon was related to races of powdery mildew. Therefore, it is important to develop a DNA marker to genetically analyze race-specific resistance genes of melon powdery mildew to breed resistant lines. To date, a total of 28 races of Podosphaera xanthii have been reported in the literature. In Japan, 10 races have been reported in the Ibaraki region. We developed a system to characterize the races of Podosphaera xanthii and confirmed eight out of those 10 races in the Ibaraki region. In Korea, only one race has been characterized to date. However, some different races were detected. Through genetic analysis of resistant lines and susceptible lines of powdery mildew, resistance genes of race1 (Pm-X, PXB, and Pm-R 1), race N1 (PXA), race 2 (Pm-w and Pm-R 2), race 3 (Pm-X3), and race 5 (Pm-X5 and Pm-R5) were identified in melon. These related genes of race 1, 3, N1, 5, and race 1, 2, 5 were located at linkage group II and V, respectively. In race 1, resistance gene was located in the linkage group XII. In addition, each race-specific marker related to specific resistance gene was developed. Using race information and race selection system obtained in this study, resistant line can be bred to develop resistant cultivar for several areas. Furthermore, this will make it more easily and economically to breed resistant lines by using selected markers.

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Abstract : Based on the place of its origin, pear tree (Pyrus spp.) is largely divided into European pears (P. communis, cultivated mainly in Europe and the U.S.) and Asian pears (P. pyrifolia, P. bretschneideri, and P. ussuriensis, distributed and grown in East Asian countries including China, Japan, and Korea). Most pear trees have 17 chromosomes (diploidy, 2n=2x=34). Their genetic studies and precise cultivar breeding are highly restricted by conditions such as self-incompatibility controlled by S-locus and juvenility as one major character of fruit crops. Genetic studies on Pyrus have been promoted by the development of various molecular markers. These markers are being utilized actively in various genetic studies, including genetic relationship analysis, genetic mapping, and QTL analysis. In addition, research on pear genetic linkage maps has been extended to studies for the identification of QTL for target traits such as disease resistance and genetic loci of useful traits. NGS technology has radically reduced sequencing expenses based on massive parallel reactions to enable high-capacity and high-efficiency. NGS based genome analyses have been completed for Chinese pear ‘Danshansuli’ and European pear ‘Bartlett’. In Korea, GWAS for agricultural valuable traits such as floral structure, ripening, and total soluble contents have been conducted through resequencing. GBS has been performed for ‘Whangkeumbae’, ‘Cheongsilri’, and ‘Minibae’.

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Abstract : Grape is one of the important fruit crops around the world, and exposed to disease and pests, and internal or environmental stresses in the vineyards. Breeding and cultivation of new varieties of high quality-grapes resistant to diseases and pests and tolerant to stresses are the most important steps in the grape production. However, conventional breeding has laborious and time-consuming procedures in maintaining and selecting seedlings in the fields. Development of molecular breeding technology through understanding of molecular mechanism of useful traits can be used as an alternative strategy to improve the efficiency of grape breeding program by cross hybridization in grape development programs. The completion of the grape genome sequencing project provided the way to discover the novel genes and to analyze their functions. Comparative genomics, transcriptomic analysis, and the genome-wide identification and analysis of useful genes as well as development of molecular marker for valuable traits could provide novel insights into fruit quality and the responses to diseases and stresses, and can be used as important information in molecular breeding programs for grape development.

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Abstract : In this review, we summarized the trends of genomics and transcriptomics research on peach, a model species of Rosaceae. Peach genome maps have been developed from various progeny groups with many next-generation sequencing (NGS) based single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Molecular markers of qualitative traits and quantitative trait loci (QTL) such as fruit characteristics, blooming date, and disease resistance have been analyzed. Among many characteristics, markers related to flesh softening and flesh adhesion are useful for marker assisted selection. Through comparative genomics, peach genome has been compared to the genome of Arabidopsis, Populus, Malus, and Fragaria species. Through transcriptomics and proteomics, fruit growth and development, and flavonoid synthesis, postharvest related transcriptomes and disease resistance related proteins have been reported. Recently, development of NGS based markers, construction of core collection of germplasm, and genotyping of various progenies have been preceded. In the near future, accurate QTL analysis and identification of useful genes are expected to establish a foundation for effective molecular breeding.

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Abstract : Citrus is an economically important fruit tree with the largest amount of fruit production in the world. It provides important nutrition such as vitamin C and other health-promoting compounds including its unique flavonoids for human health. However, it is classified into the most difficult crops to develop new cultivars through conventional breeding approaches due to its long juvenility and some unique reproductive biological features such as gamete sterility, nucellar embryony, and high level of heterozygosity. Due to global warming and changes in consumer trends, establishing a systematic and efficient breeding programs is highly required for sustainable production of high quality fruits and diversification of cultivars. Recently, reference genome sequences of sweet orange and clementine mandarin have been released. Based on the reference whole-genome sequences, comparative genomics, reference-guided resequencing, and genotyping-by-sequencing for various citrus cultivars and crosses could be performed for the advance of functional genomics and development of traits-related molecular markers. In addition, a full understanding of gene function and gene co-expression networks can be provided through combined analysis of various transcriptome data. Analytic information on whole-genome and transcriptome will provide massive data on polymorphic molecular markers such as SNP, INDEL, and SSR, suggesting that it is possible to construct integrated maps and high-density genetic maps as well as physical maps. In the near future, integrated maps will be useful for map-based precise cloning of genes that are specific to citrus with major agronomic traits to facilitate rapid and efficient marker-assisted selection.

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Abstract : Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) is a bush that grows well at special cultural environments such as acid soil, high organic matter content, and a good drainage and aeration compared to other general crops. Blueberries are well known to contain high amounts of anthocyanins and phenolic compounds, resulting in high antioxidant activity that provides health benefits, and expanding the cultivation areas and consumer’s demand in the worldwide. However, the full genome of blueberry has not been announced until now. Furthermore, the genomic analysis and transcriptome approaches are not so popular compare to major crops such as orange, apple, and grape. The aim of the review about blueberry genomic research is to establish the platform for setting blueberry breeding target, increasing proficiency of blueberry research, and making the practical cultivation techniques in Korea. The main topics in the blueberry genomic research including transcriptome, genetic mapping, and various markers are related with cold hardiness, chilling requirement, hot tolerance, anthocyanin content, and flavonoid synthesis pathway on various tissues like flower bud, leaf bud, shoot, root, and berry fruit. The review of the current status of blueberry genomic research will provide basic information to the breeders and researchers and will contribute to development of blueberry industry with sustainable productions and increase of blueberry consumption as new profitable crops in Korea.

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Abstract : Kiwifruit is a new fruit crop that was commercialized in the late 1970s. Recently, its cultivation and consumption have increased rapidly worldwide. Kiwifruit is a dioecious, deciduous, and climbing plant having fruit with hairs and various flesh colors and a variation in ploidy level; however, the industry consists of very simple cultivars or genotypes. The need for efficient cultivar improvement together with the evolutional and biological perspectives based on unique plant characteristics, have recently encouraged genome analysis and bioinformatics application. The draft genome sequence and chloroplast genome sequence of kiwifruit were released in 2013 and 2015, respectively; and gene annotation has been in progress. Recently, transcriptome analysis has shifted from previous ESTs analysis to the RNA-seq platform for intensive exploration of controlled genetic expression and gene discovery involved in fruit ascorbic acid biosynthesis, flesh coloration, maturation, and vine bacterial canker tolerance. For improving conventional breeding efficiency, molecular marker development and genetic linkage map construction have advanced from basic approaches using RFLP, RAPD, and AFLP to the development of NGS-based SSR and SNP markers linked to agronomically important traits and the construction of highly saturated linkage maps. However, genome and transcriptome studies have been limited in Korea. In the near future, kiwifruit genome and transcriptome studies are expected to translate to the practical application of molecular breeding.

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Abstract : Clubroot disease is one of the most wide-spread and devastating diseases in the cultivation of Chinese cabbage. To develop a protein marker for resistance to clubroot disease in Chinese cabbage, a comparative proteome analysis was performed between a sensitive line, 94SK, and a resistant line, CR Shinki DH. Three proteins of two fold or higher accumulation that are specific to each line were found 3 days after innoculation of the Plasmodiphora brassicae. They are glutamine synthetase, malate dehydrogenase/oxidoreductase and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase in the 94SK and actin, phosphoglycerate kinase, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase in the CR Shinki line. From the comparison of the synthesized proteins in the 94SK and the CR Shinki, CR Shinki was found to produce more ATP-binding protein for the ABC transporter while 94SK showed a higher level of pathogenesis-related protein 1 production. All of these proteomic variations may lead to the development of molecular markers to accelerate the breeding process.

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Abstract : In order to study genetic engineering in trees, the characterization of genes and promoters from trees is necessary. We isolated the promoter region (867 bp) of Pagns-LTP from poplar (P. alba × P. glandulosa) and characterized its activity in transgenic poplar plants using a β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. High-level expression of the Pagns-LTP transcript was found in poplar roots, while comparatively low-level expression was found in the young leaves. Pagns-LTP mRNA was not detected in other poplar tissues. Additionally, transgenic poplar plants that contained a Pagns-LTP promoter fused to a GUS reporter gene, displayed tissue-specific GUS enzyme activity localized in root tissue. In silico analysis of the Pagns-LTP promoter sequence reveals the presence of several cis-regulatory elements responsive to phytohormones, biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as those regulating tissue-specific expression. These results demonstrate that the Pagns-LTP promoter has tissue-specific expression activity in poplar roots and leaves that may be involved in organ development and plant resistance to various stresses. Therefore, we anticipate that the Pagns-LTP promoter would be a useful tool to genetically optimize woody plants for functional genomics.