@article{mengist_pottorff_mackey_ferrao_casorzo_lila_luby_giongo_perkins-veazie_bassil_et al._2024, title={Assessing predictability of post-storage texture and appearance characteristics in blueberry at breeding population level}, volume={214}, ISSN={["1873-2356"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.postharvbio.2024.112964}, journal={POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY}, author={Mengist, Molla F. and Pottorff, Marti and Mackey, Ted and Ferrao, Felipe and Casorzo, Gonzalo and Lila, Mary Ann and Luby, Claire and Giongo, Lara and Perkins-Veazie, Penelope and Bassil, Nahla and et al.}, year={2024}, month={Aug} }
 @article{yocca_platts_alger_teresi_mengist_benevenuto_ferrao_jacobs_babinski_magallanes-lundback_et al._2023, title={Blueberry and cranberry pangenomes as a resource for future genetic studies and breeding efforts}, volume={10}, ISSN={["2052-7276"]}, DOI={10.1093/hr/uhad202}, abstractNote={Abstract
               Domestication of cranberry and blueberry began in the United States in the early 1800s and 1900s, respectively, and in part owing to their flavors and health-promoting benefits are now cultivated and consumed worldwide. The industry continues to face a wide variety of production challenges (e.g. disease pressures), as well as a demand for higher-yielding cultivars with improved fruit quality characteristics. Unfortunately, molecular tools to help guide breeding efforts for these species have been relatively limited compared with those for other high-value crops. Here, we describe the construction and analysis of the first pangenome for both blueberry and cranberry. Our analysis of these pangenomes revealed both crops exhibit great genetic diversity, including the presence–absence variation of 48.4% genes in highbush blueberry and 47.0% genes in cranberry. Auxiliary genes, those not shared by all cultivars, are significantly enriched with molecular functions associated with disease resistance and the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites, including compounds previously associated with improving fruit quality traits. The discovery of thousands of genes, not present in the previous reference genomes for blueberry and cranberry, will serve as the basis of future research and as potential targets for future breeding efforts. The pangenome, as a multiple-sequence alignment, as well as individual annotated genomes, are publicly available for analysis on the Genome Database for Vaccinium—a curated and integrated web-based relational database. Lastly, the core-gene predictions from the pangenomes will serve useful to develop a community genotyping platform to guide future molecular breeding efforts across the family.}, number={11}, journal={HORTICULTURE RESEARCH}, author={Yocca, Alan E. and Platts, Adrian and Alger, Elizabeth and Teresi, Scott and Mengist, Molla F. and Benevenuto, Juliana and Ferrao, Luis Felipe V and Jacobs, MacKenzie and Babinski, Michal and Magallanes-Lundback, Maria and et al.}, year={2023}, month={Nov} }
 @article{coe_bostan_rolling_turner-hissong_macko-podgorni_senalik_liu_seth_curaba_mengist_et al._2023, title={Population genomics identifies genetic signatures of carrot domestication and improvement and uncovers the origin of high-carotenoid orange carrots}, volume={9}, ISSN={["2055-0278"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01526-6}, DOI={10.1038/s41477-023-01526-6}, abstractNote={AbstractHere an improved carrot reference genome and resequencing of 630 carrot accessions were used to investigate carrot domestication and improvement. The study demonstrated that carrot was domesticated during the Early Middle Ages in the region spanning western Asia to central Asia, and orange carrot was selected during the Renaissance period, probably in western Europe. A progressive reduction of genetic diversity accompanied this process. Genes controlling circadian clock/flowering and carotenoid accumulation were under selection during domestication and improvement. Three recessive genes, at the REC, Or and Y2 quantitative trait loci, were essential to select for the high α- and β-carotene orange phenotype. All three genes control high α- and β-carotene accumulation through molecular mechanisms that regulate the interactions between the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway, the photosynthetic system and chloroplast biogenesis. Overall, this study elucidated carrot domestication and breeding history and carotenoid genetics at a molecular level.}, journal={NATURE PLANTS}, author={Coe, Kevin and Bostan, Hamed and Rolling, William and Turner-Hissong, Sarah and Macko-Podgorni, Alicja and Senalik, Douglas and Liu, Su and Seth, Romit and Curaba, Julien and Mengist, Molla Fentie and et al.}, year={2023}, month={Sep} }
 @article{albert_iorizzo_mengist_montanari_zalapa_maule_edger_yocca_platts_pucker_et al._2023, title={Vaccinium as a comparative system for understanding of complex flavonoid accumulation profiles and regulation in fruit}, ISSN={["1532-2548"]}, DOI={10.1093/plphys/kiad250}, abstractNote={Abstract
               The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) contains premium berryfruit crops, including blueberry, cranberry, bilberry, and lingonberry. Consumption of Vaccinium berries is strongly associated with various potential health benefits, many of which are attributed to the relatively high concentrations of flavonoids, including the anthocyanins that provide the attractive red and blue berry colors. Because these phytochemicals are increasingly appealing to consumers, they have become a crop breeding target. There has been substantial recent progress in Vaccinium genomics and genetics together with new functional data on the transcriptional regulation of flavonoids. This is helping to unravel the developmental control of flavonoids and identify genetic regions and genes that can be selected for to further improve Vaccinium crops and advance our understanding of flavonoid regulation and biosynthesis across a broader range of fruit crops. In this update we consider the recent progress in understanding flavonoid regulation in fruit crops, using Vaccinium as an example and highlighting the significant gains in both genomic tools and functional analysis.}, journal={PLANT PHYSIOLOGY}, author={Albert, Nick W. and Iorizzo, Massimo and Mengist, Molla F. and Montanari, Sara and Zalapa, Juan and Maule, Andrew and Edger, Patrick P. and Yocca, Alan E. and Platts, Adrian E. and Pucker, Boas and et al.}, year={2023}, month={May} }
 @article{mengist_bostan_de paola_teresi_platts_cremona_qi_mackey_bassil_ashrafi_et al._2022, title={Autopolyploid inheritance and a heterozygous reciprocal translocation shape chromosome genetic behavior in tetraploid blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1469-8137"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18428}, DOI={10.1111/nph.18428}, abstractNote={Summary


Understanding chromosome recombination behavior in polyploidy species is key to advancing genetic discoveries. In blueberry, a tetraploid species, the line of evidences about its genetic behavior still remain poorly understood, owing to the inter‐specific, and inter‐ploidy admixture of its genome and lack of in depth genome‐wide inheritance and comparative structural studies.

Here we describe a new high‐quality, phased, chromosome‐scale genome of a diploid blueberry, clone W85. The genome was integrated with cytogenetics and high‐density, genetic maps representing six tetraploid blueberry cultivars, harboring different levels of wild genome admixture, to uncover recombination behavior and structural genome divergence across tetraploid and wild diploid species.

Analysis of chromosome inheritance and pairing demonstrated that tetraploid blueberry behaves as an autotetraploid with tetrasomic inheritance. Comparative analysis demonstrated the presence of a reciprocal, heterozygous, translocation spanning one homolog of chr‐6 and one of chr‐10 in the cultivar Draper. The translocation affects pairing and recombination of chromosomes 6 and 10. Besides the translocation detected in Draper, no other structural genomic divergences were detected across tetraploid cultivars and highly inter‐crossable wild diploid species.

These findings and resources will facilitate new genetic and comparative genomic studies in Vaccinium and the development of genomic assisted selection strategy for this crop.

}, journal={NEW PHYTOLOGIST}, author={Mengist, Molla F. and Bostan, Hamed and De Paola, Domenico and Teresi, Scott J. and Platts, Adrian E. and Cremona, Gaetana and Qi, Xinpeng and Mackey, Ted and Bassil, Nahla V and Ashrafi, Hamid and et al.}, year={2022}, month={Sep} }
 @article{mengist_grace_mackey_munoz_pucker_bassil_luby_ferruzzi_lila_iorizzo_2022, title={Dissecting the genetic basis of bioactive metabolites and fruit quality traits in blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)}, volume={13}, ISSN={["1664-462X"]}, DOI={10.3389/fpls.2022.964656}, abstractNote={Blueberry is well-recognized as a healthy fruit with functionality derived largely from anthocyanin and chlorogenic acid. Despite their importance, no study to date has evaluated the genetic basis of these bioactives in blueberries and their relationship with fruit quality traits. Hence, to fill this gap, a mapping population including 196 F1 individuals was phenotyped for anthocyanin and chlorogenic acid concentration and fruit quality traits (titratable acidity, pH, and total soluble solids) over 3 years and data were used for QTL mapping and correlation analysis. Total soluble solids and chlorogenic acid were positively correlated with glycosylated anthocyanin and total anthocyanin, respectively, indicating that parallel selection for these traits is possible. Across all the traits, a total of 188 QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11 and 12. Notably, four major regions with overlapping major-effect QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 4 and 8, and were responsible for acylation and glycosylation of anthocyanins in a substrate and sugar donor specific manner. Through comparative transcriptome analysis, multiple candidate genes were identified for these QTLs, including glucosyltransferases and acyltransferases. Overall, the study provides the first insights into the genetic basis controlling anthocyanins accumulation and composition, chlorogenic acid and fruit quality traits, and establishes a framework to advance genetic studies and molecular breeding for anthocyanins in blueberry.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE}, author={Mengist, Molla Fentie and Grace, Mary H. and Mackey, Ted and Munoz, Bryan and Pucker, Boas and Bassil, Nahla and Luby, Claire and Ferruzzi, Mario and Lila, Mary Ann and Iorizzo, Massimo}, year={2022}, month={Sep} }
 @article{edger_iorizzo_bassil_benevenuto_ferrao_giongo_hummer_lawas_leisner_li_et al._2022, title={There and back again; historical perspective and future directions for Vaccinium breeding and research studies}, volume={9}, ISSN={["2052-7276"]}, DOI={10.1093/hr/uhac083}, abstractNote={Abstract
               The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) contains a wide diversity of culturally and economically important berry crop species. Consumer demand and scientific research in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) have increased worldwide over the crops’ relatively short domestication history (~100 years). Other species, including bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and ohelo berry (Vaccinium reticulatum) are largely still harvested from the wild but with crop improvement efforts underway. Here, we present a review article on these Vaccinium berry crops on topics that span taxonomy to genetics and genomics to breeding. We highlight the accomplishments made thus far for each of these crops, along their journey from the wild, and propose research areas and questions that will require investments by the community over the coming decades to guide future crop improvement efforts. New tools and resources are needed to underpin the development of superior cultivars that are not only more resilient to various environmental stresses and higher yielding, but also produce fruit that continue to meet a variety of consumer preferences, including fruit quality and health related traits.}, journal={HORTICULTURE RESEARCH}, author={Edger, Patrick P. and Iorizzo, Massimo and Bassil, Nahla V and Benevenuto, Juliana and Ferrao, Luis Felipe V and Giongo, Lara and Hummer, Kim and Lawas, Lovely Mae F. and Leisner, Courtney P. and Li, Changying and et al.}, year={2022}, month={Jan} }
 @article{mengist_byrne_griffin_milbourne_2022, title={A note on the early transcriptional response in leaves and root of potato plants to cadmium exposure}, volume={60}, ISSN={["0791-6833"]}, DOI={10.15212/ijafr-2020-0124}, abstractNote={
Potato plants can accumulate a high amount of cadmium (Cd) in the tuber when grown in soils rich in Cd. The molecular mechanisms governing Cd accumulation in the potato plant are poorly understood. Here we performed an RNA-sequencing experiment to identify genes differentially expressed in the leaf and root of potato during early stages of Cd exposure. Results did not identify any significant transcriptional response in leaves under 1 or 5 mg kg−1 Cd after 72 h. However, in the roots we did identify 2,846 genes that were significantly differentially expressed after 72 h between plants grown in 5 mg kg−1 Cd and controls. These included genes involved in photosynthesis and autophagy being up-regulated, and genes involved in intracellular transport being down-regulated. This study is the first report on the transcriptome-wide response of potato to Cd stress, providing insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the response.}, number={1}, journal={IRISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD RESEARCH}, author={Mengist, M. F. and Byrne, S. L. and Griffin, D. and Milbourne, D.}, year={2022}, pages={27–32} }
 @article{mengist_bostan_young_kay_gillitt_ballington_kay_ferruzzi_ashrafi_lila_et al._2021, title={High-density linkage map construction and identification of loci regulating fruit quality traits in blueberry}, volume={8}, ISSN={["2052-7276"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-021-00605-z}, DOI={10.1038/s41438-021-00605-z}, abstractNote={AbstractFruit quality traits play a significant role in consumer preferences and consumption in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosumL). The objectives of this study were to construct a high-density linkage map and to identify the underlying genetic basis of fruit quality traits in blueberry. A total of 287 F1individuals derived from a cross between two southern highbush blueberry cultivars, ‘Reveille’ and ‘Arlen’, were phenotyped over three years (2016–2018) for fruit quality-related traits, including titratable acidity, pH, total soluble solids, and fruit weight. A high-density linkage map was constructed using 17k single nucleotide polymorphisms markers. The linkage map spanned a total of 1397 cM with an average inter-loci distance of 0.08 cM. The quantitative trait loci interval mapping based on the hidden Markov model identified 18 loci for fruit quality traits, including seven loci for fruit weight, three loci for titratable acidity, five loci for pH, and three loci for total soluble solids. Ten of these loci were detected in more than one year. These loci explained phenotypic variance ranging from 7 to 28% for titratable acidity and total soluble solid, and 8–13% for pH. However, the loci identified for fruit weight did not explain more than 10% of the phenotypic variance. We also reported the association between fruit quality traits and metabolites detected by Proton nuclear magnetic resonance analysis directly responsible for these fruit quality traits. Organic acids, citric acid, and quinic acid were significantly (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with titratable acidity. Sugar molecules showed a strong and positive correlation with total soluble solids. Overall, the study dissected the genetic basis of fruit quality traits and established an association between these fruit quality traits and metabolites.}, number={1}, journal={HORTICULTURE RESEARCH}, author={Mengist, Molla F. and Bostan, Hamed and Young, Elisheba and Kay, Kristine L. and Gillitt, Nicholas and Ballington, James and Kay, Colin D. and Ferruzzi, Mario G. and Ashrafi, Hamid and Lila, Mary Ann and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Dec} }
 @article{yow_bostan_castanera_ruggieri_mengist_curaba_young_gillitt_iorizzo_2022, title={Improved High-Quality Genome Assembly and Annotation of Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Cultivar MD2 Revealed Extensive Haplotype Diversity and Diversified FRS/FRF Gene Family}, volume={13}, ISSN={["2073-4425"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13010052}, DOI={10.3390/genes13010052}, abstractNote={Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) is the second most important tropical fruit crop globally, and ‘MD2’ is the most important cultivated variety. A high-quality genome is important for molecular-based breeding, but available pineapple genomes still have some quality limitations. Here, PacBio and Hi-C data were used to develop a new high-quality MD2 assembly and gene prediction. Compared to the previous MD2 assembly, major improvements included a 26.6-fold increase in contig N50 length, phased chromosomes, and >6000 new genes. The new MD2 assembly also included 161.6 Mb additional sequences and >3000 extra genes compared to the F153 genome. Over 48% of the predicted genes harbored potential deleterious mutations, indicating that the high level of heterozygosity in this species contributes to maintaining functional alleles. The genome was used to characterize the FAR1-RELATED SEQUENCE (FRS) genes that were expanded in pineapple and rice. Transposed and dispersed duplications contributed to expanding the numbers of these genes in the pineapple lineage. Several AcFRS genes were differentially expressed among tissue-types and stages of flower development, suggesting that their expansion contributed to evolving specialized functions in reproductive tissues. The new MD2 assembly will serve as a new reference for genetic and genomic studies in pineapple.}, number={1}, journal={GENES}, author={Yow, Ashley G. and Bostan, Hamed and Castanera, Raul and Ruggieri, Valentino and Mengist, Molla F. and Curaba, Julien and Young, Roberto and Gillitt, Nicholas and Iorizzo, Massimo}, year={2022}, month={Jan} }
 @article{mengist_burtch_debelo_pottorff_bostan_nunn_corbin_kay_bassil_hummer_et al._2020, title={Development of a genetic framework to improve the efficiency of bioactive delivery from blueberry}, volume={10}, ISSN={["2045-2322"]}, url={https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7560831}, DOI={10.1038/s41598-020-74280-w}, abstractNote={AbstractIn the present study, we applied a novel high-throughput in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model to phenotype bioaccessibility of phenolics in a diverse germplasm collection representing cultivated highbush blueberries. Results revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences between accessions, years, and accession by year interaction for relative and absolute bioaccessibility of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Broad sense heritability estimates revealed low to moderate inheritances of relative and absolute bioaccessibility, suggesting that besides environmental variables, genetics factors could control bioaccessibility of phenolics. Acylated anthocyanins had significantly higher relative bioaccessibility than non-acylated anthocyanins. Correlation analysis indicated that relative bioaccessibility did not show significant association with fruit quality or raw concentration of metabolites. The study also identified accessions that have high relative and absolute bioaccessibility values. Overall, combining the bioaccessibility of phenolics with genetic and genomic approaches will enable the identification of genotypes and genetic factors influencing these traits in blueberry.}, number={1}, journal={SCIENTIFIC REPORTS}, author={Mengist, Molla F. and Burtch, Haley and Debelo, Hawi and Pottorff, Marti and Bostan, Hamed and Nunn, Candace and Corbin, Sydney and Kay, Colin D. and Bassil, Nahla and Hummer, Kim and et al.}, year={2020}, month={Oct} }
 @article{strauch_mengist_pan_yousef_iorizzo_brown_lila_2019, title={Variation in anthocyanin profiles of 27 genotypes of red cabbage over two growing seasons}, volume={301}, ISSN={["1873-7072"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125289}, DOI={10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125289}, abstractNote={Acylated anthocyanins, such as those found in red cabbage, are more heat-, light-, and alkaline pH-stable than non-acylated anthocyanins, making them attractive for a variety of commercial applications. A UPLC-DAD-MSE method with an optimized chromatographic strategy was used to identify 29 red cabbage anthocyanins, predominantly acylated and glucosylated cyanidin derivatives. Anthocyanin profiles of 27 red cabbage genotypes harvested in consecutive growing seasons were measured and assessed for variation. Three unique anthocyanin profile fingerprints were identified through hierarchical clustering analysis. PCA analysis identified anthocyanin accumulation traits and genotypes with high diversity which can be utilized in future investigations into the genetic and molecular basis for anthocyanin production, acylation, and diversity.}, journal={FOOD CHEMISTRY}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Strauch, Renee C. and Mengist, Molla F. and Pan, Kevin and Yousef, Gad G. and Iorizzo, Massimo and Brown, Allan F. and Lila, Mary Ann}, year={2019}, month={Dec} }