Plant & Animal Genomes XIII Conference Plant & Animal Genomes XIII ConferenceJanuary 15-19, 2005
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA
Robin L. Brese , Thomas M. Davis
Enhancement of genomic resources is needed for the cultivated strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), a member of the Rosaceae family. However, the octoploid genome composition of F. x ananassa (2n = 8x = 56) presents practical difficulties associated with allelic complexity and has precluded the development of genetically homogeneous, inbred lines. We are employing a diploid (2n=2x=14) relative, Fragaria vesca, as a model system for strawberry genomics because of its small (~160 Mb) basic genome size, ancestry to the octoploid strawberries, and availability of inbred lines, among other favorable features. In this study, a cDNA library was constructed using RNA isolated from developing flower buds of F. vesca var. ‘Yellow Wonder’, an inbred, everbearing variety that we are also using as a mapping parent. A cDNA library constructed using the Clontech Creator Smart system and consisting of more than 6,000 clones was picked and spotted onto high-density filters. Sampling indicates that the library has low redundancy with average insert size between 1-2 kb. Sequence data on approximately 2,000 clones will be summarized. Characterization of these sequences will provide information on genes being expressed during flower bud development. This investigation contributes new library and EST resources for strawberry and Rosaceae genomics. (Note: library filters and clones available on request).