Genetic and molecular characterization of type-IV and -VI glandular trichomes development in tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) and their participation in arthropod resistance

Abstract

Trichomes are epidermal structures that can be classified into two types: glandular or non-glandular, and they are mainly related to plant defense strategies. Little is known about the glandular trichome development pathway, since most of the studies are in Arabidopsis thaliana, a model in which this kind of trichome is absent. The Solanum genus has a wide variety of trichomes, especially glandular ones (Types I, IV, VI and VII). The study of these structures is gaining more prominence, since they are sources of several secondary metabolites of economic and ecological importance. Wild species are considered genetic resources for tomato (S. lycopersicum), such as S. galapagense, S. pennellii e S. habrochaites that have natural genetic variations that gives resistance to herbivores attack. Among these variations is the presence of type-IV glandular trichomes, sources for acyl sugar allelochemical and a subtype of type-VI glandular trichome that produces methyl ketones and sesquiterpenes. This work proposes to elucidate the genetic basis that control type-IV and -VI glandular trichomes development in tomato and obtain lines with greater resistance to insect herbivores. (AU)