biostudies-literaturePfeifer MFederal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity3674https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12694397biostudies-literatureUnknown14(23)Fruit rots, both pre- and postharvest, represent a major problem in apple production, leading to significant yield losses each year. In this study, the inheritance of calyx abscission, a trait that could potentially reduce susceptibility to various fruit rots, was investigated in an F₁ population. Calyx persistence rates were phenotyped in the field in 2023 and 2025 on 122 offspring derived from a cross between 'Idared' and <i>Malus baccata</i> 'Jackii', the latter exhibiting complete calyx abscission. QTL analyses were conducted using genotypic data and a genetic linkage map generated in a previous study. Results show, for the first time in apple, that calyx abscission is a heritable trait influenced by multiple loci, with the strongest effects detected on linkage groups 5 and Plants (Basel, Switzerland)Inheritance of Calyx Abscission in Apple: A Trait with Potential Impact on Fruit Rot Susceptibility.PMC12694397281D108X21Wohner TPeil AFlachowsky HPfeifer MfalseInheritance of Calyx Abscission in Apple: A Trait with Potential Impact on Fruit Rot Susceptibility.Fruit rots, both pre- and postharvest, represent a major problem in apple production, leading to significant yield losses each year. In this study, the inheritance of calyx abscission, a trait that could potentially reduce susceptibility to various fruit rots, was investigated in an F₁ population. Calyx persistence rates were phenotyped in the field in 2023 and 2025 on 122 offspring derived from a cross between 'Idared' and <i>Malus baccata</i> 'Jackii', the latter exhibiting complete calyx abscission. QTL analyses were conducted using genotypic data and a genetic linkage map generated in a previous study. Results show, for the first time in apple, that calyx abscission is a heritable trait influenced by multiple loci, with the strongest effects detected on linkage groups 5 and 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-05-26T17:06:33.903Z2026-05-24T03:11:23.601ZS-EPMC126943974137538410.3390/plants14233674