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CucCAP scientists use cucumber core collection to map fruit quality traits
The CucCAP core collection, comprised of 388 accessions representing >96% of the genetic diversity for cucumber present in the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System, harbors important sources of disease resistance. As sources of resistance are often present in germplasm with poor fruit quality, scientists from Michigan State University characterized the collection for fifteen fruit quality traits. Genetic associations (QTL) for each trait were identified from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Many of the genetic locations were in close vicinity to previously identified fruit trait QTL and candidate genes; several novel loci and genes potentially important for these traits were also identified.
For further reading:
Lin YC, Weng Y, Fei Z, Grumet R. 2025. Mining the cucumber core collection: phenotypic and genetic characterization of morphological diversity for fruit quality characteristics. Horticulture Research 12:uhae340 .