Pears (Pyrus spp.) are economically important fruit trees grown extensively world-wide. To identify QTLs related to key agronomically important fruit traits, we conducted QTL analysis using an interspecific 178 F₁ populations derived from a cross between ‘Manpungbae’ and ‘Oharabeni’. Phenotyping data, including fruit weight, fruit length and diameter, fruit shape index (FSI), soluble sugar content, fruit firmness (FF), and titratable acidity (TA) were investigated from 2016 to 2018. Using the previously constructed genetic linkage map together with the three-year phenotypic dataset, we detected 14 significant QTLs associated with the control of fruit weight, fruit length and diameter, FSI, FF, and TA on linkage groups 3, 10, 11, 12, and 13. These findings provide a useful resource for advancing genetic and genomic studies in pears and will aid breeding efforts to improve major fruit traits.

‘Jinhyang’ is a fragrant pear bred in 2019. Field crossings to breed fragrant pears were conducted in 1984 at the Pear Research Center of the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science. The maternal and paternal parents were ‘Okusankichi’ (IT254489) and ‘Hori’ (IT226291), respectively. The 84-16-5 line, which had a good fragrance, was first selected in 2007, and regional adaptation tests were conducted from 2011 to 2019 in five regions (Suwon, Chuncheon, Jinju, Yecheon, and Naju). The morphological characteristics of ‘Jinhyang’ include vigorous spreading tree form, brown-colored one-year-old shoot, elliptical leaf blade, round leaf tip, and white-colored flowers. The full bloom date was April 11, and the harvest date was in late September. The fruit of ‘Jinhyang’ weighs 439.9 g and has a soluble solid content of 13.0 °Brix, with a good sugar-acid balance and abundant juice. Analysis of the fragrance components of ‘Jinhyang’ revealed the presence of a large amount of fragrant volatile compounds compared to that of the standard cultivar ‘Niitaka’. In particular, ‘Jinhyang’ contains ethyl hexanoate and ethyl butanoate, which are known volatile compounds generated by pineapple and mango. Because of its strong uprightness, cultivation management, such as shoot bending, is necessary to maintain flower buds (Registration No. 9387).