Genetic mapping reveals a candidate gene CmoFL1 controlling fruit length in pumpkin

• Published in: Frontiers in plant science 2024-05, Vol.15, p.1408602
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yimei, Zhao, Meng, Shen, Qinghui, Zhang, Mengyi, Wang, Chenhao, Zhang, Yutong, Yang, Qinrong, Bo, Yongming, Hu, Zhongyuan, Yang, Jinghua, Zhang, Mingfang, Lyu, Xiaolong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BSA-seq; CmoFL1; E3 ubiquitin ligase; fruit length; Plant Science; pumpkin
• ISSN: 1664-462X; 1664-462X
• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1408602

Fruit length (FL) is an important economical trait that affects fruit yield and appearance. Pumpkin ( Duch) contains a wealth genetic variation in fruit length. However, the natural variation underlying differences in pumpkin fruit length remains unclear. In this study, we constructed a F segregate population using KG1 producing long fruit and MBF producing short fruit as parents to identify the candidate gene for fruit length. By bulked segregant analysis (BSA-seq) and Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) approach of fine mapping, we obtained a 50.77 kb candidate region on chromosome 14 associated with the fruit length. Then, based on sequence variation, gene expression and promoter activity analyses, we identified a candidate gene ( ) encoding E3 ubiquitin ligase in this region may account for the variation of fruit length. One SNP variation in promoter of changed the GT1CONSENSUS, and DUAL-LUC assay revealed that this variation significantly affected the promoter activity of . RNA-seq analysis indicated that might associated with the cell division process and negatively regulate fruit length. Collectively, our work identifies an important allelic affecting fruit length, and provides a target gene manipulating fruit length in future pumpkin breeding.