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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201308
Title: Cucumber

Author
item Staub, Jack
item ROBBINS, MATTHEW - UNIV OF WI MADISON
item WEHNER, TODD - NC STATE UNIV, NC

Submitted to: Handbook of Plant Breeding
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2006
Publication Date: 1/2/2008
Citation: Staub, J.E., Robbins, M.D., Wehner, T.C. 2008. Cucumber. In: Prohens J. and Nuez, F., editors. Handbook of Plant Breeding. New York:NY:Springer Science and Business LLC. p. 241-282.

Interpretive Summary: Cucumber improvement is a complex process involving the refinement of populations derived from intercrossing elite and/or exotic (unadapted) germplasm, the extraction of inbred lines from such populations, and the identification of commercially acceptable F1 hybrids. Early genetic enhancement of cucumber (1850-1980) focused mainly on the incorporation of disease resistance and changes in plant architecture (e.g., sex expression, growth habit) that were augmented by improved cultural practices. General reviews of cucumber breeding (1986 and 1993), and an examination of processing cucumber production (1997) have provided for rather complete treatments of cucumber improvement and culture. Since these reviews do not include recent (last 15 years) information on cucumber breeding this manuscript was to provide a synthesis of current genetics and breeding information in cucumber that seeks to add to early knowledge base, with an emphasis on new and emerging technologies as they relate to standard, commonly practiced breeding methods. Focus is placed on processing cucumber breeding since its breeding is relatively complex and the application of emerging technologies is well documented. This work provides current cucumber geneticists and plant breeders with current information that is provided in an integrated way to improve the usage of genetic stocks and molecular breeding technologies. In this way it seeks to improve breeding efficiency and effectiveness, thus ensuring a competitive advantage to the grower as new technologies are implemented to solve current and predicted production problems.

Technical Abstract: Cucumber improvement is a complex process involving the refinement of populations derived from intercrossing elite and/or exotic (unadapted) germplasm, the extraction of inbred lines from such populations, and the identification of commercially acceptable F1 hybrids. Early genetic enhancement of cucumber (1850-1980) focused mainly on the incorporation of disease resistance and changes in plant architecture (e.g., sex expression, growth habit) that were augmented by improved cultural practices. General reviews of cucumber breeding (1986 and 1993), and an examination of processing cucumber production (1997) have provided for rather complete treatments of cucumber improvement and culture. Since these reviews do not include recent (last 15 years) information on cucumber breeding this manuscript was to provide a synthesis of current genetics and breeding information in cucumber that seeks to add to early knowledge base, with an emphasis on new and emerging technologies as they relate to standard, commonly practiced breeding methods. Focus is placed on processing cucumber breeding since its breeding is relatively complex and the application of emerging technologies is well documented. This work provides current cucumber geneticists and plant breeders with current information that is provided in an intergrated way to improve the useage of genetic stocks and molecular breeding technologies. In this way it seeks to improve breeding efficiency and effectiveness, thus ensuring a competitive advantage to the grower as new technologies are implemented to solve current and predicted production problems.