QTL mapping of pod tenderness and total soluble solid in yardlong bean [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. subsp unguiculata cv.-gr. sesquipedalis]

Yardlong bean [Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata cv.-gr. sesquipedalis] is an important vegetable legume, particularly in Asia. Tenderness and sweetness of fresh pods are the key factors in deciding the commercial acceptance of yardlong bean. We report here for the first time quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of these traits from crosses between the yardlong bean accession JP81610 and wild cowpea (V. unguiculata ssp. unguiculata var. spontanea) accession JP89083. Two SSR-based linkage maps developed from BC1F1 [(JP81610 x JP89083) x JP81610] and F-2 (JP81610 x JP89083) populations were used for QTL analysis of pod tenderness and total soluble solid (TSS) content. Composite interval mapping (CIM) identified three QTLs for pod tenderness with phenotypic variance explained (PVE) of 5.6-50 % and alleles from JP81610 increased the tenderness. CIM detected two QTLs for pod TSS with PVE of 7 and 9 %, and alleles from JP89083 increased TSS. Locations of these QTLs were compared with those of QTLs controlling domestication-related traits identified in the same populations. All QTLs for pod tenderness co-localized with QTLs for pod length. QTLs for pod TSS co-located with QTLs for pod dehiscence and/or pod length. The implications of these QTLs in breeding new yardlong bean and cowpea cultivars are discussed.