ASSESSMENT OF THE ALLELIC STATE OF THE FAOMT GENE IN STRAWBERRY BREEDING FORMS OF INTERVARIETAL ORIGIN

Improving the fruit aroma is one of the promising directions of modern strawberry breeding. The strawberry fruit aroma is a complex trait, formed by a combination of a large number of volatile compounds. The present study shows the results of assessing the allelic state of the FaOMT gene, determining biosynthesis of mesifurane (volatile compound) in strawberry selected forms created in the «I.V. Michurin FSC». The biological objects of the study were 22 strawberry selected intervarietal forms from 12 crossing combinations. The allelic state of the FaOMT gene was identified using codominant SCAR marker FaOMT-SI/NO. As a result of the studies, the marker fragment of the functional allele FaOMT+ was identified in 86.4 % of forms. A heterozygous combination of alleles of the FaOMT gene (average level of mesifurane accumulation in fruits) was detected in 9.1 % forms. The homozygous state of the functional allele was detected in 77.3% forms. The homozygous state of the non-functional allele FaOMT- (mesifurane is not produced) is characterized by three genotypes (13.6 %). The greatest value for strawberry breeding use are forms with the homozygous state of the FaOMT+ allele: 1/6-41 (Vima Zanta × Polka), 2/2-32, 2/2-41 (Faith × Tea), 3/2-62 (Vima Zanta × Privlekatelnaya), 3/4-6, 3/4-7 (Malwina × Tea), 3/9-5, 3/9-12 (Florence × Faith), 5/1-105 (Polka × Vima Zanta), 5/2-23, 5/2-26, 5/2-32 (San Andreas × Monterey), 6/3-5, 6/3-21 (Kimberly × 9/2-2), 7/2-78 (Asia × Maya), 9/2-2, 9/2-7 (Kimberly × Honeoye). These forms are characterized by the maximum level of mesifurane biosynthesis in fruits and their involvement of which in hybridization allows the transmission of the target allele to 100 % of the hybrid seedlings.