Cucumber QTL Introgression for Yield and Cold Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for identifying QTLs to enhance total fruit yield in cucumber plants, particularly in long cucumber types suitable for glasshouse cultivation, while avoiding introgression fragments that decrease average fruit length, and ensuring increased yield in cold growing conditions.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of QTL2.1 on chromosome 2 and QTL6.1 on chromosome 6, derived from a wild relative of cucumber, which are introgressed into cultivated cucumber plants to increase fruit yield, with QTL2.1 enhancing fruit weight and QTL6.1 providing cold tolerance, thereby improving yield in cooler climates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If an introgression fragment from a wild relative of cucumber is introduced to increase fruit yield, then fruit yield is improved, but average fruit length may be decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit yieldVSAvoidaverage fruit length

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The introgression fragment was divided into two separate QTL regions (QTL2.1 and QTL6.1) that can be independently selected and combined. This segmentation allows breeders to select for yield-increasing regions while excluding length-decreasing regions through marker-assisted selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful QTL2.2 region that decreases fruit length was extracted and excluded from the introgression fragment. The beneficial QTL2.1 region was retained and combined with QTL6.1, creating a refined introgression that increases yield without the negative side effect of reduced fruit length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If multiple QTLs are introgressed from a wild relative to enhance yield, then fruit yield is improved, but the complexity of breeding programs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit yieldVSAvoidbreeding program complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Molecular markers were developed to provide feedback on the presence of QTL2.1 and QTL6.1 in breeding populations. This enables marker-assisted selection, where breeders can directly select plants carrying the desired QTLs based on marker genotypes, significantly reducing the complexity and time required for yield enhancement breeding programs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If QTLs are selected to increase yield in cold conditions, then cold tolerance is improved, but adaptation to specific climates is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold toleranceVSAvoidclimate adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The introgression fragment containing QTL2.1 and QTL6.1 provides multi-functional benefits: QTL2.1 increases overall fruit yield while QTL6.1 specifically enhances cold tolerance. This combination makes the breeding material universally applicable across different climate conditions, from cold greenhouse environments to milder field conditions, expanding climate adaptability while maintaining reliable yield enhancement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3442325B1Introgression of two yield qtls in cucumis sativus plants

Publication Date: 2025.10.29 NUNHEMS BV

Figure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to cultivated cucumber plants comprising a yield QTL on chromosome 2 and/or a yield QTL on chromosome 6 of their genome, and to methods for generating such plants, and their use.