Identification and confirmation of RAPD markers and andromonoecious associated with quantitative trait loci for sugars in melon

Our objectives were to identify randomly amplifi ed polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for sucrose, total soluble solids (TSS), and sucrose percentage of total sugars (SPTS) using bulked segregant analysis in an F2 population from the melon (Cucumis melo L.) cross of 'TAM Dulce' (high sugars) x TGR1551 (low sugars) in a greenhouse experiment, and confi rm the associations of RAPD markers with QTL for these sugar traits in an F2 population from the different cross of 'Deltex' (high sugars) x TGR1551 in a fi eld experi- ment. Continuous distributions for sucrose, TSS, and SPTS were observed in the F2 populations indicating quantitative inheritance for the traits. Signifi cant positive correlations were found between sucrose and TSS or SPTS. Nine RAPD markers were detected to be signifi cantly associated with QTL for sucrose in the F2 population of the 'TAM Dulce' x TGR1551 cross in the greenhouse based on simple linear regression. Five unlinked markers associated with QTL were signifi cant in a stepwise multiple regression analysis where the full model explained 39% of the total phenotypic varia- tion for sucrose. Five and seven of the nine RAPD markers associated with QTL for sucrose were also observed to be signifi cantly associated with QTL for TSS and SPTS, respectively, suggesting that in this cross three sugar traits are controlled by the same QTL. Five RAPD markers were confi rmed in the F2 population of the 'Deltex' x TGR1551 cross in the fi eld to be consistently associated with QTL for three sugar traits. Signifi cant associations of andromonoecious (a) with both sucrose and TSS were consistently expressed in our populations under greenhouse and fi eld environments. These RAPD and fl oral markers associated with the sugar synthesis QTL identifi ed and confi rmed here could be useful in melon breeding for improving the mature fruit sweetness.