Mapping QTLs associated with fruit quality traits in peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] using SNP maps

Fruit quality is an essential criterion used to select new cultivars in peach breeding programs and is determined based on a combination of organoleptic and nutritional traits. The aim of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for fruit quality traits in an F1 nectarine population derived from ‘Venus’ and ‘Big Top’ cultivars. The progeny were evaluated over 4 years for agronomical and biochemical characteristics and genotyped using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and ‘IPSC 9K peach SNP array v1’. Two genetic maps were constructed using 411 markers. The ‘Venus’ map spanned 259 cM on nine linkage groups (LGs) with 104 markers. The ‘Big Top’ map spanned 464 cM on 10 LGs with 122 markers. Single or Multiple QTL models mapping was applied separately for each year and all years combined. A total of 54 QTLs mapped over 12 LGs belonged to seven peach chromosomes. Most of the QTLs were consistent over the 4 years of study and were validated with the multi-year analysis. QTLs for total phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents were reported for the first time in peach. LG 4 in ‘Venus’ and LG 5 in ‘Big Top’ showed the highest numbers of QTLs. This work represents the first study in an F1 nectarine family to identify peach genomic regions that control fruit quality traits using ‘IPSC 9K SNP array v1’ and provides useful information for marker-assisted breeding to produce peaches with better antioxidant content and healthy attributes.