The high content of carotenoids, sugars, dry matter, vitamins and minerals makes the fruit of winter squash (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) a valuable fresh-market vegetable and an interesting material for the food industry. Due to their nutritional value, long shelf-life and health protective properties, winter squash fruits have gained increased interest from researchers in recent years. Despite these advantages, the genetic and genomic resources available for C. maxima are still limited. The aim of this study was to use the genetic mapping approach to map the ovary colour locus and to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for high carotenoid content and flesh colour. An F6 recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population was developed and used for evaluations of ovary colour, carotenoid content and fruit flesh colour. SSR markers and DArTseq genotyping-by-sequencing were used to construct an advanced genetic map that consisted of 1824 molecular markers distributed across linkage groups corresponding to 20 chromosomes of C. maxima. Total map length was 2208 cM and the average distance between markers was 1.21 cM. The locus affecting ovary colour was mapped at the end of chromosome 14. The identified QTLs for carotenoid content in the fruit and fruit flesh colour shared locations on chromosomes 2, 4 and 14. QTLs on chromosomes 2 and 4 were the most meaningful. A correlation was clearly confirmed between fruit flesh colour as described by the chroma value and carotenoid content in the fruit. A high-density genetic map of C. maxima with mapped loci for important fruit quality traits is a valuable resource for winter squash improvement programmes.

中文翻译：

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南瓜颜色和数量性状基因座的遗传图谱显示西葫芦果实中类胡萝卜素的含量。

类胡萝卜素，糖，干物质，维生素和矿物质的含量高，使西葫芦（西葫芦）的果实成为有价值的新鲜蔬菜，并且是食品工业中一种有趣的材料。由于壁球的营养价值，较长的保质期和健康保护特性，近年来，南瓜的果实引起了研究人员的越来越多的兴趣。尽管具有这些优点，但是可用于巨大梭菌的遗传和基因组资源仍然有限。这项研究的目的是使用遗传作图方法对卵巢的颜色基因座进行作图，并确定高类胡萝卜素含量和肤色的定量性状位点（QTL）。开发了F6重组近交系（RIL）作图种群，并用于评估卵巢颜色，类胡萝卜素含量和果肉颜色。利用SSR标记和DArTseq测序进行基因分型，构建了由1824个分子标记组成的高级遗传图谱，这些分子标记分布在与20个最大染色体相对应的连锁群之间。总图长为2208 cM，标记之间的平均距离为1.21 cM。影响卵巢颜色的位点位于14号染色体的末端。确定的水果中类胡萝卜素含量的QTL和2、4和14号染色体上的果肉颜色共享位置。2号和4号染色体上的QTL最有意义。通过色度值描述的果肉颜色与水果中类胡萝卜素的含量之间明确地证实了相关性。具有重要水果品质性状的定位基因座的高密度梭菌高密度遗传图谱是冬季南瓜改良计划的宝贵资源。