Inheritance of beta-carotene-associated mesocarp color and fruit maturity of melon (Cucumis melo L.)

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit production in U.S. can be improved through the introgression of early fruit maturity (FM) and the enhancement of fruit color [i.e., quantity of β-carotene (QβC); orange mesocarp]. However, the genetics of FM and QβC have not been clearly defined in U.S. Western Shipping...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Euphytica 2010-05, Vol.173 (1), p.129-140
Main Authors: Cuevas, H. E, Staub, J. E, Simon, P. W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
andromonoecy
artificial selection
Beta carotene
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
breeding lines
color
crop yield
Crop yields
crossbreds
Cucumis melo
early development
epistasis
fruit crops
fruiting
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gene segregation
Generalities. Genetics. Plant material
Genetic resources, diversity
Genetics and breeding of economic plants
germplasm
inheritance (genetics)
introgression
Life Sciences
melons
mesocarp
monoecy
plant breeding
Plant Genetics and Genomics
Plant material
Plant Pathology
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
recessive genes
ripening
selection criteria
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Summary:Melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit production in U.S. can be improved through the introgression of early fruit maturity (FM) and the enhancement of fruit color [i.e., quantity of β-carotene (QβC); orange mesocarp]. However, the genetics of FM and QβC have not been clearly defined in U.S. Western Shipping market class melons (USWS). Thus, a cross was made between the monoecious, early FM Chinese line ‘Q 3-2-2' (non-carotene accumulating, white mesocarp) and the andromonecious, comparatively late FM USWS line ‘Top Mark' (carotene accumulating; orange mesocarp) to determine the inheritance of FM and QβC in melon. Parents and derived cross-progenies (F₁, F₂, F₃, BC₁P₁, and BC₁P₂) were evaluated for FM and QβC at Hancock, Wisconsin over 2 years. Estimates of narrow-sense heritability (h N ² ) for QβC and FM as defined by F₁, F₂, and BC (by individuals) were 0.55 and 0.62, respectively, while estimates based on F₃ families were 0.68 and 0.57, respectively for these traits. Mesocarp color segregation (F₂ and BC₁P₂) fit a two gene recessive epistatic model, which in turn, interacts with other minor genes. Although the inheritance of QβC and FM is complex, introgression (e.g., by backcrossing) of early FM genes resident in Chinese germplasm into USWS market types is possible. Such introgression may lead to increased yield potential in USWS market types while retaining relatively high β-carotene fruit content (i.e., orange mesocarp), if stringent, multiple location and early generation family selection (F₃₋₄) is practiced for FM with concomitant selection for QβC.
ISSN:0014-2336
1573-5060
DOI:10.1007/s10681-010-0142-y