Pierre Bouillon

• Contact

IRHS Bât. B
Team VALEMA
42, rue Georges Morel
CS 60057
49071 BEAUCOUZE Cedex
FRANCE

Tel : +33 (0)2 41 22 57 21

Email : pbouillon@ifo-fruit.com 

The thesis project focuses on the characterization of the genetic and epigenetic determinism of red flesh and internal browning in apple.

This project aims first at characterizing the fruit flesh color from individuals derived from several segregating F1 populations.   This characterization will include the quantification of red flesh intensity and localization within each fruit. During the storage period, flesh browning kinetic will also be evaluated and quantified. Simultaneously, different techniques will be tested to quantify flesh color using both destructive and non-destructive methods. Finally, the secondary metabolites involved in flesh coloration will be quantified.

The genetic determinism of red flesh and internal browning will then be investigated. QTLs associated with genomic regions controlling the observed traits will be identified and will lead to the development of molecular markers applicable in MAS (Molecular marker Assisted Selection). In parallel, epigenomic studies will be conducted in order to identify potential epigenetic marks associated with the expression of the characters, which expression may vary depending on environmental conditions.