Genetic diversity of tomato response to heat stress at the QTL and transcriptome levels

Tomato is a widely cultivated crop, which can grow in many environments. However, temperature above 30 degrees C impairs its reproduction, subsequently impacting fruit yield. We assessed the impact of high-temperature stress (HS) in two tomato experimental populations, a multi-parental advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population and a core-collection (CC) of small-fruited tomato accessions. Both populations were evaluated for 11 traits related to yield components, phenology and fruit quality in optimal and HS conditions. HS significantly impacted all traits in both populations, but a few genotypes with stable yield under HS were identified. A plasticity index was computed for each individual to measure the extent of the heat impact for each trait. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected in control and HS conditions as well as for plasticity index. Linkage and genome-wide association analyses in the MAGIC and CC populations identified a total of 98 and 166 QTLs, respectively. Taking the two populations together, 69 plasticity QTLs (pQTLs) were involved in tomato heat response for 11 traits. The transcriptome changes in the ovary of six genotypes with contrasted responses to HS were studied, and 837 genes differentially expressed according to the conditions were detected. Combined with previous transcriptome studies, these results were used to propose candidate genes for HS response QTLs.

Automated summary

The study found that high temperature significantly affects characteristics such as yield and quality of tomatoes, but also identified genotypes that are stable under high temperature. By calculating the plasticity index, researchers discovered 69 QTLs involved in the response of tomatoes to heat stress. In terms of transcriptome changes, 837 genes were found to be differentially expressed in the ovaries of six genotypes with contrasting responses to heat stress.