Construction of a genetic map of melon with molecular markers and horticultural traits, and localization of genes associated with ZYMV resistance

A partial linkage map of melon was constructed from a cross between PI414723 and Dulce. Twenty-two SSR, 46 RAPD, 2 ISSR markers and four horticultural markers [female flower form (a), Fusarium resistance, striped epicarp (st), and fruit flesh pH (pH)] were analyzed in an F-2/F-3 population to produce a map spanning 14 linkage groups. We report for the first time map positions for the st, a, and pH genes. One SSR marker was tightly linked to pH. Mapping the a gene for the female flower form to molecular linkage group 4 enabled the merging of the map of horticultural traits with the of molecular markers in this region. Using the 22 SSR markers of this map, two of the three postulated ZYMV resistance genes were located using a BC1 population (PI414723 recurrent parent). One SSR marker was tightly linked to a ZYMV resistance gene, designated Zym-1.