Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research
Project Number: 2038-21530-003-001-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2020
End Date: Aug 31, 2025
Objective:
The objectives of this project are to: (a) develop shared genomic approaches and tools for cucurbit species (cucumber, melon and watermelon); (b) identify and map resistances to key diseases and conduct comparative genomic analyses to identify syntenic regions among the cucurbit species; (c) develop breeding tool kits for accelerated crop improvement and initiate introgression of resistance into elite cultivars.
Approach:
Develop appropriate genetic populations for each key disease, conduct phenotypic assays using greenhouse and field tests, and genotypic analyses using genotype by sequencing in order to construct genetic maps; associate phenotype and genotype data for quantitative trait loci (QTL) identification and gene mapping; and identify molecular markers for efficient trait selection and gene pyramiding. GBS will be performed on core populations for each crop species to provide a standing resource for genome wide association studies (GWAS).
