Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Docs » CGC » Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 9:111-120 (article 37) 1986

Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 9:111-120 (article 37) 1986
headline bar

Gene List for Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

Three lists of the genes of Cucumis melo have been published previously (12, 13, 52). Following is a complete and updated list of the 74 known genes of muskmelon. We hope to continue this practice, andpublish a complete list for muskmelon every 3 years.

The names and symbols of two genes were changed: watermelon mosaic virus 1 is now regarded as strain of papaya ringspot virus (49) so Wmv has been changed to Prv. Paris et al. (41) proposed that bush symbolized b be changed to short internode (si) because it is more descriptive of the phenotypic effect of the gene, and because of a second gene that also affects internode length,m si-2. This list includes these proposed changes.

Four additional mutants have been described but not tested for allelism with known mutants of similar phenotypes. three affect leaf characteristics: cut leaf (57), dissected leaves (17) and lobed leaves (19). The fourth is a chlorophyll mutant, flava (42).

ms-5
Gene symbol

 

 

Preferred
Synonym

Character

References

a

M

andromonoecious. Mostly staminate, fewer perfect flowers; on a+_ plants, pistillate flowers have no stamens; epistatic to g.

47, 53

ab
-
abrahiate. Lacking lateral branches. Interacts with a and g (e.g. abab aa g+ _ plants produce oly staminate flowers).
22
Af
-
Aulacophora foveicollis resistance. Resistance to the red pumpkin beetle.
56
Ag
-
Aphis gossypii tolerance, Freedom from leaf curling following aphid infestation
4
Al-1
Al1
Abscission layer-1. One of two dominant genes for abscission layer formation. See Al-2.
55
Al-2
Al2
Abscission layer-2. One of two dominant genes for abscission layer formation. See Al-1.
55
Ap-11
(APS-11)
Acid phosphatase-11. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating one band. The heterozygote has two bands. See Ap-12
20
Ap-12
(APS-12)
Acid phosphatase-12 . One of two codominant alleles, each regulating one band. The heterozygote has two bands. See Ap-11.
20
Bi
-
Bitter. Bitter seedling; dominant to nonbitter,
32
dc-1
-
Dacus cucurbitae-1 resistance. One of two complementary recessive genes for resistance to the melon fruitfly. See dc-2.
54
dc-2
-
Dacus cucurbitae-2 resistance. One of two complementary recessive genes for resistance to the melon fruitfly. See dc-1.
54
Fn
-
Flaccida necrosis. Semi-dominant gene for wilting and necrosis with F pathotype of ucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (Fn in Doublon, Fn+ in Vedrantais).
46, 51
Fom-1
Fom1
Fusarium oxysporum f. melonis resistance. Resistance to races 0 and 2 and susceptibiility to races 1 and 3 and race 1, 2, 3 of Fusarium wilt. See Fom-3.
50
Fom-2
Fom1.2
Fusarium oxyysporum f. melonis resistance. Resistance to races 0 and 1, 3 and susceptibility to races 2 and 1, 2, 3 of Fusarium wilt.
50, 63
Fom-3
-
Fusarium oxysporum f. melois resistance. Same phenotype as Fom-1 but segregates independently (15 resistant:1 susceptible in F2) from Fom-1.
63
g
-
gynomonoecious. Mostly pistillate, fewer perfect flowers. Epistatic to a: a+_g+_monoecious; a+_ gg gynoecious; aa g+_ andromonoecious; aa gg hermaphrodite.
47
gf
-
green flesh color. Recessive to salmon.
26
gl
-
glabrous. Trichomes lacking
21
gp
-
green petals. Corolla leaf like in color and venation.
38
gyc
-
greenish yellow corolla.
62
h
-
halo cotyledons. Yellow cotyledons, later turning green.
40
jf
-
juicy flesh. Segregates discretely in a monogenic ratio in segregating generations.
9
lmi
-
long mainstem internode. Affects internode length of the main stem ut not of the lateral ones.
35
Mc
-
Mycosphaerella citrullina resistance. High degree of resistance to gummy stem blight.
48
Mc-2
Mc1
Mycosphaerella citrullina resistance. Moderate degree of resistance to gummy stem blight
48
ms-1
ms1
male sterile-1. Indehiscent anthers with empty pollen walls in tetrad stage.
7
ms-2
ms2
male sterile-2. Anthers indehiscent, containing mostly empty pollen walls, growth rate reduced.
5
ms-3
ms-L
male sterile-3. Waxy and translucent indehiscent anthers, containing two types of empty pollen sacs.
37
ms-4
-
male sterile-4. Small indehiscent anthers. First male flowers abort at bud stage.
33
n
-
nectarless. Nectaries lacking in all flowers (in 40099).
2
nsv
-
necrotic spot virus resistance.
11
O
-
Oval fruit shape. Dominant to round; associated with a.
58
P
-
pentamerous. Five carpels and stamens; recessive to trimerous.
53
Pa
-
Pale green foliage. PaPa plants are white (lethal); PaPa+ are yellow .
36
Pc-1
-
Pseudoperonospora cubensis resistance. One of two complementary incompletely dominant genes for downy mildew resistance in PI 124111. See Pc-2.
10
Pc-2
-
Pseudoperonospora cubensis resistance. See Pc-1.
10
Pgd-21
(6-PGDH-21)
Phosphoglucodehydrogenase-21. One of two codominant alleles that regulate 6-phosphoglucodehydrogenase, each regulates one band. The heterozygote has one intermediate band. See Pgi-22.
20
Pgi-22
(6- PGDG-2 2)
Phosphoglucodehydrogenase-22. One of two codominant alleles that regulate 6-phosphoglucodehydrogenase, each regulates one band. The heterozygote has one intermediate band. See Pgi-21.
20
Pgi-11
(PGI-11)
Phosphoglucoisomerase-11. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating two bands. The heterozygote has three bands. See Pgi-12.
20
Pgi-12
(PGI-12)
Phosphoglucoisomerase-12. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating two bands. The heterozygote has three bands. See Pgi-11.
20
Pgi-21
(PGI-21)
Phosphoglucoisomerase-21. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating two bands. The heterozygote has three bands. See Pgi-22
20
Pgi-22
(PGI-22)
Phosphoglucoisomerase-22. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating two bands. The heterozygote hs three bands. See Pgi-21
20
Pgm-21

PGM-21

Pgm-22

Phosphoglucomutase-21. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating two bands. The heterozygotes has three bands. See Pgm-22.
20
Pgm-22

(PGM-22)

 

Phosphoglucomutase-Pgm-22. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating two bands. The heterozygote has three bands. See Pgm-21
20
Pm-1

Pm1

 

Powdery mildew resistance. Resistance to race 1 of Spahaerotheca fulginea.
28, 29
Pm-2
Pm2
Powdery mildew resistance-2. Interacts with Pm-1. Resistance to races 1 and 2
8
Pm-3
Pm-3
Powdry mildes resistance-3. Resistance derived from PI 124111.
124
Pm-4
Pm4
Powdery mildew resistance-4. Resistance derived from 'Seminole'.
24
Pm-5
Pm5
Powdery mildew resistance-5. Resistance derived from 'Seminole'.
24
Prv1
Wmv
Papaya ringspot virus resistance. Resistance to W strain of papaya ringspot virus (formerly Watermelon Mosaic Virus 1) Dominant to Prv2.
44, 59
Prv2
-
Papaya ringspot virus resistance. Derived from PI1A 180283. Allele at the same locus as Prv1but different reaction with some strains of the virus Recessive to Prv1, dominant to Prv+.
30,44
Px-11
PRX-11
Peroxidase-11. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating a cluster of four adjacent peroxidase bands. The heterozygote has five bands. See Px-12.
20
Px-12
PRX-12
Peroxidase-12. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating a cluster of four adjacent peroxidase bands. The heterozygote has five bands. See Px-11.
20
Px-21

(Px2A)

 

Peroxidase-21. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating a cluster of three adjacent peroxidase bands. See Px-21
15
Px-22

Px2B

 

Peroxidase-22. One of two codominant alleles, each regulating a cluster of three adjacent peroxidase bands. See Px-21.
15
r
-
red stem. Red pigment under epidermis of stems, especially at nodes; tan seed color.
3, 36
ri
-
ridge. Ridged fruit surface, recessive to ridgeless.
55
s
-
sutures. Presence of vein tracts ("sutures"); recessive to ribless.
1
si-1
b
short internode-1. Extremely compact plant habit.
6, 16, 39, 41
si-2
-
short internode-2. Short internodes from 'birdnest' melon.
41
So
-
Sour taste. Dominant to sweet
31
sp
-
Spherical fruit shape. Recessive to obtuse; dominance incomplete.
1, 34
st
-
striped epicarp. Recessive to non-striped.
23
v
-
virescent. Pale cream cotyledons and hypocotyls; yellow green foliage.
25
v-2
-
virescent-2
18
Vat
-
Virus aphid transmission resistance. Resistance to the transmission of viruses by Aphis gossypii.
43, 46
w
-
white color of mature fruit. Recessive to dark green fruit skin.
26
wf
-
white flesh. Recessive to orange.
27
Wi
-
White color of immature fruit. Dominant to green.
31
Wt
-
White testa. Dominant to yellor or tan seed coat color.
23
Y
-
Yellow epicarp. Dominant to white fruit skin.
23
yg
y
yellow green leaves. Reduced chlorophyll content.
60
yv
-
yellow virescence. Pale cotyledons; yellow green young leaves and tendrils; bright and yellow petals and yellow stigma; etiolated; older leaves becoming green.
61
Zym
-
Zucchini Yellow Mosaic virus resistance. Resistance to pathotype 0 of this virus.
45

References

  1. Bains, M.S. and U.S. Kang. 1963. Inheritance of some flower and fruit characters in muskmelon. Indian J. Genet. Plant Breeding, 23:101-106.
  2. Bohn, G.W. 1961. Inheritance and origin of nectarless muskmelon. J. Hered. 52-233-237.
  3. Bohn, G.W. 1968. A red stem pigment in muskmelon. Veg. Improvement Newsletter 10:107.
  4. Bohn, G.W., A.N. Kishaba, J.A. Principe and H.H. Toba. 1973. Tolerance to melon aphid in Cucumis melo L. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 98:37-40.
  5. Bohn, G.W. and J.A. Principe. 1964. A second male-sterility gene in the muskmelon. J. Hered. 55-211-215.
  6. Bohn, G.W. and J.A. Principe. 1968. Independent assortment of young plant characters in muskmelon. HortScience 3:95. (abstract).
  7. Bohn, G.W. and T.W. Whitaker. 1949. A gene for male sterility in the muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 53:309-314.
  8. Bohn, G.W. and T.W. Whitaker. 1964. Genetics of resistance to powdery mildew race 2 in muskmelon. Phytopathology 54:587-591.
  9. Chadha, M.L., K.S. Nandpuri and S. Singh. 1972. Inheritance of some fruit characters in muskmelon. Indian J. Hort. 29:58-62.
  10. Cohen, Y., S. Cohen, H. Eyal and C.E. Thomas. 1985. Inheritance of resistance to downy mildew in Cucumis melo PI 124111. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 8:36-38.
  11. Coudriet, D.L., A.N. Kishaba and G.W. Bohn. 1981. Inheritance of resistance to muskmelon necrotic spot virus in a melon aphid-resistant breeding line. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106-789-791.
  12. Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative, Gene List Committee, 1979. New genes for the Cucurbitaceae. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rept. 2:49-53.
  13. Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative, Gene List Committee. 1982. Update of cucurbit gene list and nomenclature rules. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rept. 5:62-66.
  14. Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative, Gene List Committee. 1985. Gene list for muskmelon (cucumis melo L.). Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rept. 9:111-120.
  15. Dane, F. 1983. Cucurbits, p. 369-390. In: S.D. Tankeley and T.J. Orton (Eds.). Isozymes in plant genetics and breeding, Part B, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam.
  16. Denna, D.W. 1962. A study of the genetic, morphological and physiological basis for the bush and vine habit of several cucurbits. Ph.D. Thesis, Cornell Univ., Ithica, N.Y.
  17. Dyutin, K.E. 1967. [A spontaneous melon mutant with dissectd leaves] Genetica 9:179:180.
  18. Dyutin, K.E. 1979. [Inheritance of yellow-green coloration of the young leaves in melon] Tsitologia i genetika 13:407-408. (In Russian).
  19. Esquinas Alcazar, J.T. 1975. 'Hojas hendidas', a nuevo mutante en Cucumis melo L. Inst. Nacionale Invest. Agrarias. An; Ser.: Produc. Veg. 5:93-103.
  20. Esquinas-Alcazar, J.T. 1981. Alloenzyme variation and relationships among Spanish land-races of Cucumis melo L. Kulturpflanze 29:337-352.
  21. Foster, R.E. 1963. Glabrous, a new seedling marker in muskmelon. J. Hered. 54:113-114.
  22. Foster, R.E. and W. T. Bond 1967. Abrachiate, an androecious mutant muskmelon. J. Hered. 58:13-14.
  23. Hagiwara, T. and K. Kamimura. 1936. Cross-breeding experiments in Cucumis melo. Tokyo Hort. School Pub.
  24. Harwood, R.R. and D. Markarian. 1968. The inheritance of resistance to powdery mildew in muskmelon. J. Hered. 59-126-130.
  25. Hoffman, J.C. and P.E. Nugent. 1973. Inheritance of a virescent mutant of muskmelon. J. Hered. 64:311-312.
  26. Hughes, M.B. 1948. The inheritance of two characters of Cucumis melo and their interrelationship. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 52:399-402.
  27. Iman, M.K., M.A. Abo-Bakr and H.Y. Hanna. 1972. Inheritance of some economic characters in crosses between sweet melon and snake cucumber. I. Inheritance of qualitative characters. Assiut J. Ag. Sci. 3:363-380.
  28. Jagger, I.C. and G.W. Scott. 1937. Development of powdery mildew resistant canteloupe No. 45. U.S. Dept. Agr. Cir. 441.
  29. Jagger, I.C., T.W. Whitaker and D.R. Porter. 1938. Inheritance in Cucumis melo of resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum). Phytopathology 28: 761.
  30. Kaan, J.F. 1973. Recherches sur la resistance du melon aux maladies, notamment a la mosaique de la pasteque et au mildiou, appliquees au type varietal 'Cantaloup charentais'. C.R. Eucarpia Meeting. Avignon (France) 19-22 June, 1983. 41-49.
  31. Kubicki, B. 1962. Inheritance of some characters in muskmelons (Cucumis melo). Genet. Polonica 3:265-274.
  32. Lee, C.W. and J. Janick. 1978. Inheritance of seedling biterness in Cucumis melo. HortScience 13:193-194.
  33. Lozanov, P. 1983. Selekcija na mazkosterilni roditelski komponenti za ulesnjavana na proizvodstvoto na hibridni semena ot papesi. Dokl. na parva naucna konferncija po genetika i selekapa Razgrad.
  34. Lumsden, D. 1914. Mendelism in melons. New Hamp. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 172, 58pp.
  35. McCreight, J.D. 1983. A long internode mutant in muskmelon. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rept. 6:45.
  36. McCreight, J.D. and G.W. Bohn. 1979. Descriptions, genetics and independent assortment of red stem and pale in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 104-721-723.
  37. McCreight, J.D. and G.W. Elmstrom. 1984. A third male-sterile gene in muskmelon. HortScience 19:268:270.
  38. Mockaitis, J.M. and A. Kivilaan. 1965. A green corolla mutant in Cucumis melo L. Naturwissenschaften 52:434.
  39. Mohr, H.C. and D.E. Knavel. 1966. Progress in the development of short internode (bush) canteloupes. HortScience 1:16.
  40. Nugent, P.E. and J.C. Hoffman. 1974. Inheritance of the halo cotyledon mutant in muskmelon. J. Hered. 65:315-316.
  41. Paris, H.S., H. Nerson and Z. Karchi. 1984. Genetics of internode length in melons. J. Hered. 75:403-406.
  42. Pitrat, M., C. Ferriere and M. Richard. 1986. Flava, a chlorophyll deficient mutant in muskmelon. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rept. 9:67.
  43. Pitrat, M. and H. Lecoq. 1980. Inheritance of resistance to cucumber mosaic virus transmission by Aphis gossypii in Cucumis melo. Phytopathology 70:958-961.
  44. Pitrat, M. and H. Lecoq. 1983. Two alleles for watermelon mosaic virus 1 resistance in muskmelon. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rept. 6:52-53.
  45. Pitrat, M. and H. Lecoq. 1984. Inheritance of zucchini yellow mosaic virus resistance in Cucumis melo L. Euphytica 33:57-61.
  46. Pitrat, M. G. Risser, G. Ferriere, C. Olivier and M. Ricard. 1991. Two virescent mutants in melon (Cucumis melo). Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rept. 14:45.
  47. Poole, C.F. and P.C. Grimball. 1939. Inheritance of new sex forms in Cucumis melo L. J. Hered. 30:21-25.
  48. Prasad, K. and J.D. Norton. 1967. Inheritance of resistance to Mycosphaerella citrullina in muskmelon. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 91:396-400.
  49. Purcifull, D., J. Edwardson, E. Hiebert and D. Gonsalves. 1984. Papaya ringspot virus. Commonwealth Inst. Myc., Descriptions of Plant Viruses No. 292, London.
  50. Risser, G. 197e. Etude de l'heridite de la resistance du melon (Cucumis melo) aux races 1 et 2 de Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis. Ann. Amelior. Plantes 23:259-263.
  51. Risser, G. M. Pitrat, H. Lecoq and J.C. Rode. 1981. Sensibilite varietale du melon (Cucumis melo L.) au virus du rabougrissement jaune du melon (MYSV) et a sa transmission par Aphis gossypii. Heredite de la reactio de fletrissement. Agronomie 1:835-838.
  52. Robinson, R.W., H.M. Munger, T.W. Whitaker and G.W. Bohn. 1976. genes of the Cucurbitaceae. HortScience 11:554-568.
  53. Rosa, J.T. 1928. The inheritance of flower types in Cucumis and Citrullus. Hilgardia 3:233-250.
  54. Sanbandam, C.N. and S. Chelliah. 1972. Cucumis callosus (Rottl.) Logn., a valuable material for resistance breeeding in muskmelons. Proc. 3rd Intern. Symposium Sub-tropical Hort. 1:63-68.
  55. Takada, K., K. Kanazawa and K. Takatuka. 1975. Studies on the breeding of melon for resistance to powdery mildew. II. Inheritance of resistance to powdery mildew and correlation of resistance to other characters. Veg. Orn., Crops Res. Sta., Yasai Shikenjo Hokoku, Japan 2:11-31.
  56. Vashistha, R.N. and B. Choudhury. 1974. Inheritance of resistance to red pumpkin beetle in muskmelon. Sabrao J. 6:95-97.
  57. Velich, I. and I. Fulop. 1970. A new muskmelon type of cut leaf character. Zoldsegtermesztes 4:107-112.
  58. Wall, J.R. 1967. Correlated inheritance of sex expression and fruit shape in Cucumis. Euphytica 16:199-208.
  59. Webb. R.E. 19789. Inheritance of resistance to watermelon mosaic virus in Cucumis melo L. HortScience 14:265-266.
  60. Whitaker, Thomas W. 1952. Genetic and chlorophyll studies of a yellow-green mutant in muskmelon. Plant Physiol. 27:263-268.
  61. Zink. F.W. 1977. Linkage of virescent foliage and plant growth habit in muskmelon. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 102:613-615.
  62. Zink. F.W. 1986. Inheritance of a greenish-yellow corolla mutant in muskmelon. J. Hered. 77:363.(acceptd for publication, probably in July/Aug. 986 issue).
  63. Zink, F.W. 1990. Inheritance of a delayed lethal mutant in muskmelon. J. Hered. 81:210-211.
  64. Zink. F.W. and W.D. Gubler. 1985. Inheritance of resistance in muskmelon to Fusarium wilt. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 110:600-604.

It is hoped that scientists will consult the above list as well as the rules of gene nomenclature for the Cucurbitaceae (11, 12, 13, 40) before choosing a gene name and symbol. Thus, inadvertent duplication of gene names and symbols will be prevented. The rules of gene nomenclature were adopted in order to provide guidelines for the naming and symbolizing genes previously reported and those which will be reported in the future. Scientists are urged to contact members of the gene list Committee regarding questions in interpreting the nomenclature rules and in naming and symbolizing new genes.

CGC Gene List Committee:

Cucumber:T.C. Wehner
Muskmelon:M. Pitrat
Watermelon:W.R. Henderson
Cucurbita spp. : T. R. Whitaker
Other genera:R.W. Robinson