Genetic Mapping of a QTL Controlling Fruit Size in Melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L.)

Fruit size is an important agronomic trait affecting the yield and commercial value of melon and a key trait selected for during domestication. In this study, two respective melon accessions (large-fruited M202008 and small-fruited M202009) were crossed, and developed biparental mapping populations...

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Main Authors: Fazle Amin, Nasar Ali Khan, Sikandar Amanullah, Shusen Liu, Zhao Liu, Zhengfeng Song, Shi Liu, Xuezheng Wang, Xufeng Fang, Feishi Luan
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2254
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author Fazle Amin
Nasar Ali Khan
Sikandar Amanullah
Shusen Liu
Zhao Liu
Zhengfeng Song
Shi Liu
Xuezheng Wang
Xufeng Fang
Feishi Luan
author_facet Fazle Amin
Nasar Ali Khan
Sikandar Amanullah
Shusen Liu
Zhao Liu
Zhengfeng Song
Shi Liu
Xuezheng Wang
Xufeng Fang
Feishi Luan
author_sort Fazle Amin
collection DOAJ
description Fruit size is an important agronomic trait affecting the yield and commercial value of melon and a key trait selected for during domestication. In this study, two respective melon accessions (large-fruited M202008 and small-fruited M202009) were crossed, and developed biparental mapping populations of the F<sub>2</sub> generation (160 and 382 plants) were checked across two subsequent experimental years (2023 and 2024). The phenotypic characterization and genetic inheritance analysis showed that melon fruit size is modulated by quantitative genetics. Bulked segregant sequencing analysis (BSA-seq) identified a stable and effective quantitative trait locus (QTL, named <i>Cmfs</i>) controlling fruit size, localized to a 3.75 Mb region on chromosome 9. To better delineate the main-effect <i>Cmfs</i> locus, co-dominant polymorphic molecular markers were developed in this genetic interval, and genotyping was performed within the F<sub>2</sub> mapping populations grown across two years. QTL analysis of the phenotypic and genotypic datasets delimited the major-effect <i>Cmfs</i> locus interval for fruit length [2023: logarithm of odds (LOD) value = 6.16, 16.20% phenotypic variation explained (PVE); 2024: LOD = 5.44, 6.35% PVE] and fruit diameter (2023: LOD value = 5.48, 14.59% PVE; 2024: LOD = 6.22, 7.22% PVE) to 1.88 and 2.20 Mb intervals, respectively. The annotation analysis across the melon genome and comparison of resequencing data from the two parental lines led to the preliminary identification of <i>MELO3C021600.1</i> (annotated as cytochrome P450 724B1) as a candidate gene related to melon fruit size. These results provide a better understanding for further fine mapping and functional gene analysis related to melon fruit size.
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spelling doaj-art-4fed6db1d80f4453a1d93eb46d29f22f2025-08-20T03:36:32ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011415225410.3390/plants14152254Genetic Mapping of a QTL Controlling Fruit Size in Melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L.)Fazle Amin0Nasar Ali Khan1Sikandar Amanullah2Shusen Liu3Zhao Liu4Zhengfeng Song5Shi Liu6Xuezheng Wang7Xufeng Fang8Feishi Luan9Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticulture Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticulture Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaDepartment of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759, USAWatermelon and Melon Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Shandong Province Co., Ltd., Weifang 261000, ChinaWatermelon and Melon Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Shandong Province Co., Ltd., Weifang 261000, ChinaWatermelon and Melon Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of Shandong Province Co., Ltd., Weifang 261000, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticulture Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticulture Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticulture Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, ChinaFruit size is an important agronomic trait affecting the yield and commercial value of melon and a key trait selected for during domestication. In this study, two respective melon accessions (large-fruited M202008 and small-fruited M202009) were crossed, and developed biparental mapping populations of the F<sub>2</sub> generation (160 and 382 plants) were checked across two subsequent experimental years (2023 and 2024). The phenotypic characterization and genetic inheritance analysis showed that melon fruit size is modulated by quantitative genetics. Bulked segregant sequencing analysis (BSA-seq) identified a stable and effective quantitative trait locus (QTL, named <i>Cmfs</i>) controlling fruit size, localized to a 3.75 Mb region on chromosome 9. To better delineate the main-effect <i>Cmfs</i> locus, co-dominant polymorphic molecular markers were developed in this genetic interval, and genotyping was performed within the F<sub>2</sub> mapping populations grown across two years. QTL analysis of the phenotypic and genotypic datasets delimited the major-effect <i>Cmfs</i> locus interval for fruit length [2023: logarithm of odds (LOD) value = 6.16, 16.20% phenotypic variation explained (PVE); 2024: LOD = 5.44, 6.35% PVE] and fruit diameter (2023: LOD value = 5.48, 14.59% PVE; 2024: LOD = 6.22, 7.22% PVE) to 1.88 and 2.20 Mb intervals, respectively. The annotation analysis across the melon genome and comparison of resequencing data from the two parental lines led to the preliminary identification of <i>MELO3C021600.1</i> (annotated as cytochrome P450 724B1) as a candidate gene related to melon fruit size. These results provide a better understanding for further fine mapping and functional gene analysis related to melon fruit size.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2254melonfruit lengthfruit diametermolecular markers
spellingShingle Fazle Amin
Nasar Ali Khan
Sikandar Amanullah
Shusen Liu
Zhao Liu
Zhengfeng Song
Shi Liu
Xuezheng Wang
Xufeng Fang
Feishi Luan
Genetic Mapping of a QTL Controlling Fruit Size in Melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L.)
Plants
melon
fruit length
fruit diameter
molecular markers
title Genetic Mapping of a QTL Controlling Fruit Size in Melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L.)
title_full Genetic Mapping of a QTL Controlling Fruit Size in Melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L.)
title_fullStr Genetic Mapping of a QTL Controlling Fruit Size in Melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L.)
title_full_unstemmed Genetic Mapping of a QTL Controlling Fruit Size in Melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L.)
title_short Genetic Mapping of a QTL Controlling Fruit Size in Melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L.)
title_sort genetic mapping of a qtl controlling fruit size in melon i cucumis melo i l
topic melon
fruit length
fruit diameter
molecular markers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2254
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