Integrating BSA-Seq, QTL Mapping, and RNA-Seq to Identify Candidate Genes for Hollow Heart in Cucumber Fruits

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a globally significant vegetable crop, and its fruit quality remains a major focus of research. The hollow-heart trait, characterized by internal cracks or cavities, severely compromises both the commercial value and edible quality of cucumber fruit. In this study, a six-generation segregating population (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1P1, BC1P2) was developed from the parental lines “JZ6-1-2” and “D0432-3-4”. BSA-seq was employed to map candidate genomic regions associated