Genetic mapping of ovary colour and quantitative trait loci for carotenoid content in the fruit of Duchesne.

The high content of carotenoids, sugars, dry matter, vitamins and minerals makes the fruit of winter squash ( Duchesne) a valuable fresh-market vegetable and an interesting material for the food industry. Due to their nutritional value, long shelf-life and health protective properties, winter squash fruits have gained increased interest from researchers in recent years. Despite these advantages, the genetic and genomic resources available for are still limited.