Novel Tools from LGC to Help Boost Global Tomato Breeding

LGC has announced the launch of its KASP™ assay library for tomato genotyping. Developed in conjunction with the Solanaceae Coordinated Agricultural Project (SolCAP) consortium, this validated panel of 384 carefully selected KASP SNP markers, plus 7,000 additional KASP SNP markers for tomato, has been designed and genetically mapped to enable crop improvement by genotyping and Marker-assisted selection (MAS) of desirable traits.

Marcus Wills, Commercial Director, Genomics, LGC, said, “We are proud to launch this assay library as it underlines our commitment to providing our customers with world-class tools for precision breeding. LGC has a long history of working with global consortia of plant researchers; this library is just one of a number of pre-designed panels of KASP marker assays that are available for customers to use in their own research. The KASP genotyping assays can either be run as a service at LGC, or ordered and run in the customer’s own lab”.

Dr. David Francis, Ohio State University, Department of Horticulture & Crop Science and member of the SolCAP Executive Committee, said, “Working with the SolCAP team of academic bioinformatics experts, tomato breeders and LGC, we have generated a "Core Marker Set" for cultivated tomato. This core set of 384 KASP assays have been selected from validated SNPs. The markers have been selected to maximize polymorphic information content based on 110 large-fruited elite fresh-market tomato varieties. The SNPs were further selected to be evenly distributed across the genome, based on both genetic and physical maps.”

The assay library is accessible via an online search tool which allows selection of relevant assays by SNP ID, gene name or chromosome location.

LGC has also recently launched a plant sample collection kit, with the aim of improving collection and preservation of sample material for nucleic acid extraction, and subsequently the quality of genotyping and sequencing data.