Anthocyanin mutations improving tomato and pepper tolerance to adverse climatic conditions

The effect of four mutated genes affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis was inv estigated relative to tomato and pepper germination capacities and early se edlings and plantlets growth. The study was performed on isogenic/near isog enic lines (IL/NIL) differing for genes ah ( Hoffmann's anthocyaninless), a w ( anthocyanin without) and bls (baby lea syndrome) in tomato and al (anth ocyaninless - 1) in pepper. Germination responses of the IL/NILs showed tha t genes ah, aw and bls in tomato and al in pepper enhanced germination abil ities under stress conditions regardless of the inherent seed properties th at imparted rapid germination. This evaluation was conducted with four very different types of stress: 13 degreesC, 33 degreesC, 120 mM NaCl and 15% P EG-6000 water solutions. The four genes exercised no effect on root and hyp ocotyl elongation under the same stress conditions and their effect on plan tlets growth varied depending on the genotype and the treatment. The useful ness of genes ah, aw, bls and al in breeding tomato and pepper cultivars to lerant to adverse climatic conditions at germination when used as a morphol ogical marker, is discussed.