Genetic mapping in Citrullus lanatus

Abstract

The development of a genetic linkage map for watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) has been restricted by the low levels of genotypic diversity previously measurable. Earlier mapping studies have overcome this limitation by using intersubspecific and multispecies crosses to produce genetic maps, but through the development of SNP markers for watermelon the level of measurable genotypic diversity has been increased and allowed the production of the first known intrasubspecific and intervarietal genetic maps. The three maps produced for this study used an elite F7 recombinant inbred line (RIL), an elite by egusi F2, and an elite by citron F2 population. The first objective of this study was to analyze the three maps to form a consensus order and develop a universal nomenclature for watermelon. The second objective of this study was to analyze the elite by elite population for horticulturally important quantitative trait loci (QTL).