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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #149267
Title: SEQUENCE ANALYSES OF PROBES REVEALING RESTRICTION FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISMS IN CUCUMBER

Author
item Havey, Michael

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2004
Publication Date: 4/1/2005
Citation: Havey, M.J. 2005. Sequence analyses of probes revealing restriction fragment length polymorphisms in cucumber. Hortscience. 40:323-324.

Interpretive Summary: The development of a cucumber genetic map is challenging due to its narrow genetic background. Because various genetic markers have been mapped by different laboratories using different crosses, it is imperative that all previously developed genetic markers are available to the cucumber research community. We previously identified cucumber DNA probes that revealed restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) segregating in cucumber. Because these probes may eventually be lost, we sequenced cucumber genomic and cDNA clones revealing RFLPs segregating in cucumber. Comparisons using translated sequences revealed that 80% of the cucumber cDNA clones showed significant homologies to Arabidopsis genes. Relatively few (32%) of the genomic clones showed significant homologies to Arabidopsis sequences. We found a preliminary relationship between genetic linkage in cucumber and physical linkage in Arabidopsis that may aid in the identification and cloning of candidate genes in cucumber. This research will be of use to researchers working on the identification of important genes in cucumber or other cucurbit crops.

Technical Abstract: The development of a dense cucumber map is challenging due to its narrow genetic background. Because various genetic markers have been mapped by different laboratories using different crosses, it is imperative that all previously developed molecular markers are available to the cucumber research community. We previously identified cucumber DNA probes that revealed restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) segregating in cucumber. Because these probes may eventually be lost, we sequenced cucumber genomic and cDNA clones revealing RFLPs segregating in cucumber. Comparisons using translated sequences (TBLASTX) revealed that 80% of the cucumber cDNA clones showed significant (>e-20) homologies to Arabidopsis ESTs. Relatively few (32%) of the genomic clones showed significant (>e-20) hits to the Arabidopsis sequences. We found a preliminary relationship between genetic linkage in cucumber and physical linkage in Arabidopsis, indicating that there may exist regions of colinearity with Arabidopsis over short recombinational distances that may aid in the identification and cloning of candidate genes in the cucurbits.