Submitted to : Dr.

Rana Muhammad Artif

Submitted by: Maham Anwaar

2016-AG-6809

Subject: PBG-711

Summary of Paper:
Introduction of foliates:

Folates are vitamin B9 that is water soluble and is essentially required by human body. Our body
is unable to synthesize folates. Therefore, it must be taken through supplements and diet. Folates
are required for the synthesis of DNA, RNA and Amino acids that are then necessary for cell
division in human body. It prevents us from many diseases like cancer in youngs and
cardiovascular diseases. Many countries are facing folate deficiencies that cause diseases in their
infants. We can get folate naturally from plants that are main source of vitamin B9 but it is less
in staple crops as rice, wheat, maize etc, so we can not get the required amount of folate from
them That’s why we must add leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts to our diet to beat folate
deficiency. Scientists are working day and night to improve folate quantities in crops through
biofortification (required nutrient increase) using conventional breeding and transgenic
approaches (QTL, molecular markers, GMO).

SUMMARY:

This paper is based on studies of folate levels and it’s variation in tomato crop (Solanam
lycoparsicum). As there are many consequences about GMO’s so they studied natural variation
of foliates in tomato. For this, studies are done on genes and biosynthetic pathways of foliates
and came to know that 2 genes are Arabidopsis that is pteridine and para aminobenzoic acid.
this petridine is synthesized by GTP cyclohyrolase I and pABA is synthesized by
aminodexocychrorismate.

Tomato is most important food crop that is used as a food and vegetable in all over the world. It
is enriched in lycopene and B-Carotene. In this paper, 160 tomato genotypes are studied for
folate levels by microbial assay method.125 were studied by LC-MS method and SNP’s are
used. 82 accessions were for red and green mature fruit respectively. plant was sown in October
and harvest in February of year 2011-2012 and also in 2012-2013. There were total 391 plants.
the plants obtained in 2011-2012 era were analyzed through Micribiological assay MA while
the 2013 were analyzed through LC-MS folate analysis. Seeds are sown on germinating trays
having coconut pea and then transferred to the field in Hyderabad All the genotypes were grown
under the same conditions. Then the plants are harvested after the required days of maturation
after pollination according to the respective case of studies.

To check the folate levels in plants, stock solutions were made keeping in mind all the protocols
for preparation and purity. Purity was calculated by molar absorption coefficients for folates and
spectrophotometers. Folate quantification, sensitivity, limit detections were evaluated.

Genomic studies were done by extraction DNA from the plants based on genes controlling
folates and are studied genomically. PCR is done on 5 genes controlling folates. Then the
extracted DNA is run on SNP’S single nucleotide polymorphisms (marker studies). The samples
were run on gel again to confirm the presence of SNPs. Statistical analysis was done to
demonstrate further results. Results declared that tomato fruits are enriched in several
compounds particularly carotenoids and also have a moderate folate concentration at maturity.
However, green and red mature fruits have different levels of folate and is not fixed.

Mostly folate declines when plants mature from green to red one but dome plants showed
increase in their folate levels. Many studies declared that it may be seasonal variation but the
differences in levels remains same so the variation was not seasonal. Hence, it was declared that
may be the change in levels of foliate is due to the genotypic difference. Keeping in view the
genetic linkages, genetic polymorphism and genetic variations due to the linkage and interaction
of genes it is confirmed that the difference in levels of folate is due to genotypic dependence of
folates and genes were recalcitrant to the polymorphic variation. This study provides the basis of
natural variation of folate levels in nutrient enriched food crop Tomato.