Molecularly tagged genes and quantitative trait loci in cucumber with recommendations for QTL nomenclature

Cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. (2n = 2x = 14), is an important vegetable crop worldwide. It was the first specialty crop with a publicly available draft genome. Its relatively small, diploid genome, short life cycle, and self-compatible mating system offers advantages for genetic studies. In recent years, significant progress has been made in molecular mapping, and identification of genes and QTL responsible for key phenotypic traits, but a systematic review of the work is lacking. Here, we conducted an extensive literature review on mutants, genes and QTL that have been molecularly mapped or characterized in cucumber. We documented 81 simply inherited trait genes or major-effect QTL that have been cloned or fine mapped. For each gene, detailed information was compiled including chromosome locations, allelic variants and associated polymorphisms, predicted functions, and diagnostic markers that could be used for marker-assisted selection in cucumber breeding. We also documented 322 QTL for 42 quantitative traits, including 109 for disease resistances against seven pathogens. By alignment of these QTL on the latest version of cucumber draft genomes, consensus QTL across multiple studies were inferred, which provided insights into heritable correlations among different traits. Through collaborative efforts among public and private cucumber researchers, we identified 130 quantitative traits and developed a set of recommendations for QTL nomenclature in cucumber. This is the first attempt to systematically summarize, analyze and inventory cucumber mutants, cloned or mapped genes and QTL, which should be a useful resource for the cucurbit research community.