Screening method for selecting plants that show reduced wound-induced surface discolouration and plant and plant parts thus obtained

Abstract

Provided is a method for screening a population of plants or plant parts for the presence therein of individuals that show a reduced wound-induced surface discolouration as compared to a control plant or plant part, which method comprises providing a population of plants or parts of the plants from the population; creating a wound surface on the plants or plant parts to be screened and on the control plants or plant parts; incubating the wound surfaces to allow for discolouration to occur therein or thereon; observing the wound surface discolouration in or on the plants or plant parts; comparing the observed wound surface discolouration in or on the plants or plant parts to be screened with the discolouration that is observed on or in the control plant or plant part. The plants thus selected are also provided.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A lettuce plant showing a reduced wound-induced surface discoloration, which plant has in its genome genetic information which is responsible for the reduced wound-induced surface discoloration and which genetic information is the same as or similar to the genetic information which is responsible for the reduced wound-induced surface discoloration that is present in a lettuce plant of which seed was deposited under NCIMB accession number 41454 or 41441. 
     
     
         50 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 49 , which plant is obtainable by crossing a lettuce plant of which seed was deposited under NCIMB accession number 41454 or 41441 with another lettuce plant and subsequently selecting from the progeny of the cross plants showing a reduced wound-induced surface discoloration by
 a) creating a wound surface on the progeny plants or parts thereof and on a control plant or parts thereof;   b) incubating the wound surfaces to allow for discoloration to occur therein or thereon;   c) observing the wound surface discoloration in or on the plants or plant parts;   d) comparing the observed wound surface discoloration in or on the progeny plants or parts thereof with the discoloration that is observed on or in the control plant or plant part to identify progeny plants that show no discoloration or a discoloration that is reduced as compared to the control plant or plant part.   
     
     
         51 . The lettuce plant as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the reduced wound-induced surface discoloration is a reduction or absence of pink coloration at the edges of a leaf disc of the lettuce plant when incubated between two sheets of wetted filter paper for 7 days at 5° C. as compared to the control plant. 
     
     
         52 . The plant as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the plant shows a reduced wound-induced leaf discoloration and no negative pleiotropic effects. 
     
     
         53 . A progeny of a parent plant as claimed in  claim 49  that has in its genome the genetic information which is responsible for the reduced wound-induced surface discoloration as found in the parent plant. 
     
     
         54 . A part of a plant as claimed in  claim 49 . 
     
     
         55 . The part as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the part is selected from leaf, head, shoot, root, seed or pieces thereof, and cells. 
     
     
         56 . A plant regenerated from the plant part as claimed in  claim 54  that has in its genome the genetic information which is responsible for the reduced wound-induced surface discoloration as found in the parent plant. 
     
     
         57 . A seed of a plant as claimed in  claim 49 . 
     
     
         58 . A progeny from the seed as claimed in  claim 57  wherein the progeny has in its genome the genetic information which is responsible for the reduced wound-induced surface discoloration as found in the parent. 
     
     
         59 . A seed of a plant as claimed in  claim 56 . 
     
     
         60 . A progeny from the seed as claimed in  claim 59  wherein the progeny has in its genome the genetic information which is responsible for the reduced wound-induced surface discoloration as found in the parent.