1. WP5: Enhancing the knowledge of genetics underlying novel traits and providing phenotyping methods WP leader Bénédicte Quilot-Turion, INRA Avignon, FRANCE

5. Tasks Task T5.2: Tools to assess fruit quality - New tools for improved texture determination Instrumental tools and reference analysis to characterise the sub-traits of apple and peach texture. Apple _ non targeted approaches: microarrays (PFR-DLO) and a full genome oligo array (INRA and FEM) Peach _ gene expression of indicator genes downstream of ethylene perception - New tools to determine apple’s sensitivity to storage New storage simulation tests will be developed with the aim to develop a tool to select genotypes which are suited for prolonged storage - New tools to determine apple fibre content The use of near infra-red (NIR) analyses will be explored to make available an easy tool to determine fiber content of apple

6. Tasks Task T5.3: Tests to select traits important for climate change adaptation - Tests to predict chilling and heat requirement Predictive methods will be developed to characterize the genetic variability of chilling and heat requirement for apple and peach (year 1 - year 2). Improved chilling models will be used in order to quantify CR, based on the results obtained with the two complementary tests. - Tests to evaluate responses to water scarcity Evaluation of drought resistance in France and Italy on the same genotypes (year 1 - year 3) of apple and peach, on trees subjected to drought stress conditions, respectively in field and in pots. Identification of the parameter(s) most related to drought susceptibility Via common apple cultivars, results will be linked to the high-throughput assessment of drought resistance performed in WP4 on the apple core-collection.

7. Expected results / outcomes ML5.1 Tools and methods compared to characterize traits and sub-traits M24 ML5.2 Validation of tools on contrasted cultivars M36 ML5.3 Standardised tools and methods available for large-scale phenotyping M48 ML5.4 Knowledge of the genetics underlying novel and complex traits M54

10. Partners involved : 9 task topic leader sub-task other contributors nb of partners 5.1 Storage disease B. Quilot INRA-Av 2 UNIMI 5.2 Fruit quality J. Mes texture DLO 8 INRA-Ang INRA-Nantes FEM-IASMA PFR (New Zealand) IRTA UNIMI ARO (Volcani) storage DLO 2 INRA-Ang fiber INRA-Nantes 1 5.3 Climate adaptation E. Costes CR INRA-Mtp 3 INRA-Bdx ARC (South Africa) water UNIBO 3 INRA-Mtp INRA-Bdx