Abstract

Fruits quality parameters are very important for any new sweet cherry (Prunus aviumL.) cultivars because they are directly related to consumer preference in important markets around the world, and economic profitability for the growers. It is for this reason, that determining the genetic components of these traits is a high priority for sweet cherry breeding programs. The present work aims to characterize phenotypically a segregating population for fruit quality characters, in order to further identify QTLs and candidate genes related to these parameters in the segregating populations 'Bing X Lapins'. Towards this end, the following phenological traits were analysed: fruit equatorial width (cm), fruit weight (g), fruit firmness (durometer units), skin color, anthocyanin and chlorophyll absorbance, soluble solids concentration (SSC %), and acidity. Rsesults from the first season revealed phenological trait segregations for all the parameters measured in this population. Further analyses of the segregating parameters in this population, sould provide insight into the genetic regulation of important fruit quality parameters as well as molecular markers and associated candidate genes that may be incorporated into sweet cherry breeding programs. This work has been financed by Fondecyt Regular 1171016, Fondecyt Regular N° 1161377 and the Internationalization Project UCH-1566 of the ‘Campus Sur' doctorate programs of the Universidad de Chile