Fine mapping an AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR, SmARF18, as a candidate gene of the PRICKLE LOCUS that controls prickle absence/presence on various organs in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

•Prickle's absence/presence on various organs was controlled by only one dominant nuclear gene in eggplant.•The PRICKLE LOCUS (Pl) was fine mapped into an interval with 28.3 Kb on chromosome 6, which only contained three gene loci.•An auxin response factor SmARF18 (Smechr0602826.1) with a non-synonymous SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) was deduced to be the candidate gene encoded by Pl.•The variation of SmARF18 was verified that co-segregated with prickly phenotype in the F2 population.