IL52 is a valuable introgression line obtained from interspecific hybridization between cultivated cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., 2n = 14) and the wild relative species C. hystrix Chakr. (2n = 24). IL52 exhibits high resistance to a number of diseases, including downy mildew, powdery mildew, and angular leaf spot. However, the ovary- and fruit-related traits of IL52 have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we conducted quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for 11 traits related to ovary size, fruit size, and flowering time using a previously developed 155 F7:8 RIL population derived from a cross between CCMC and IL52. In total, 27 QTL associated with the 11 traits were detected, distributed on seven chromosomes. These QTL explained 3.61% to 43.98% of the phenotypic variance. Notably, we identified a major-effect QTL (qOHN4.1) on chromosome 4 associated with the ovary hypanthium neck width and further delimited it into a 114-kb candidate region harboring 13 candidate genes. Furthermore, the QTL qOHN4.1 is co-localized with the QTL detected for ovary length, mature fruit length, and fruit neck length, all residing within the consensus QTL FS4.1, suggesting a plausible pleiotropic effect.
Keywords: QTL mapping; cucumber; fruit size; introgression line; ovary hypanthium neck; ovary size.