The National Institute of Genetics, the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, and Professor Nobu Kitajima of the Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University have collaborated to decipher the entire genome sequence of 15 species of citrus fruits.Advanced genetic analysis was performed on 269 varieties and strains, and the parent-child relationship of more than 60 varieties of citrus fruits was clarified.
There are a wide variety of citrus fruits, such as Satsuma mandarin, lemon, and yuzu, which are familiar ingredients to Japanese people.It is thought that these varieties have been selected as cultivars by crossing a small number of ancestral varieties, but since citrus fruits are rich in genetic diversity, the parent-child relationship of each variety was hardly known.
The research group developed DNA markers that characterize varieties and conducted genetic analysis of citrus fruits.As a result, 22 varieties including Satsuma mandarin were identified as parents, and the combination of seed parent and pollen parent was clarified.In addition, we clarified the single parent, origin, and parent-child relationship in 45 native varieties.
This study is expected to clarify how ancestral varieties, which are thought to originate from northeastern India to Asia, have been introduced to various parts of the world and have become as diverse as they are today.Furthermore, by showing the possibility of mating combinations with unused varieties, it can be expected to be applied to the development of new varieties with excellent properties.
