Final answer:
Without a corresponding p-value for the given LOD score, we cannot conclude whether the QTL interval is associated with pumpkin size. In QTL mapping, significance is often assessed with a p-value compared to an alpha level, but the LOD score provided is insufficient for such a determination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is assessing whether a quantitative trait locus (QTL) is associated with pumpkin size through QTL mapping. The key statistic given for the QTL is an LOD score of 0.59. However, this does not provide enough information to determine the association as we do not have the corresponding p-value for the LOD score. Typically, an LOD score of 3 or higher is considered significant evidence of a QTL. Since the p-value is not mentioned with the LOD score, we cannot decide on the association.
In the information provided, we have various examples where a decision is made based on the alpha level and the p-value. For example, if we consider a p-value of 0.0044 with an alpha of 0.05, we would reject the null hypothesis, suggesting an association between the factors being studied since the p-value is less than the alpha (p-value < alpha).
Without a clear p-value associated with the LOD score given for the QTL, we cannot accurately answer whether the interval is associated with pumpkin size. It is essential in QTL mapping to have a statistically significant LOD score and to compare the derived p-value to an alpha level to assess correlation with traits like pumpkin size.