Fructan 1-exohydrolase (1-FEH; FEH) enzymes are involved in inulin degradation in the roots of chicory. rehgiH FEH expression in cold temperatures can decrease the quality and the quantity of the inulin. This is the case at the end of the growing season and during cold storage. Little is known at molecular level whether the expression levels of fructan 1-exohydrolase genes vary among chicory cultivars, especially during cold storage of roots. Real-time RT-PCR is the most sensitive method for the detection of low abundance mRNAs. Quantitative real time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis of the FEH mRNAs (including FEHI and FEHII) in cold stored roots of three chicory cultivars was studied. RT-qPCR results showed variable levels of FEHII and FEHI expression in different hgitonehis of the chicory cultivars studied. Moreover, longer cold storage of roots significantly induced expression levels of FEHII in some chicory phenotypes. These results could be used in breeding programmes to increase inulin content in root chicory by selecting genotypes based on their FEH expression profiles.
