Cucumber Breeding, Genomics, and Pathology
The CucCAP cucumber team is breeding cucumbers for resistance to Downy mildew and Phytophthora fruit rot. In the past five years, CucCAP scientists have identified new sources of resistance for Phytophthora rot in cucumber. QTL or markers were published for Powdery mildew, Downy mildew, angular leaf spot and anthracnose in cucumber. QTL identification and marker development is in progress for Phytophthora rot in cucumber. Transfer of resistances into commercially useful material is underway for Downy mildew and Phytophthora rot in cucumber. Integrated disease management trials will be conducted on new varieties at multiple locations, under different environmental conditions, production practices, and pathogen populations in collaboration with the Integrated Disease Mangement team.
Yiqun Weng
Dr. Weng is a Research geneticist and the Cucumber Team leader. His Cucumber Genetics, Genomics and Breeding Laboratory is part of the USDA ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit (VCRU) in the Horticulture Department at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Members of the Weng lab include technician Ashley Seufzer, postdoctoral research associate Feifan Chen, and graduate student Junyi Tan.
Rebecca Grumet
Dr. Grumet is a Professor at Michigan State University specializing in: Reproductive development in Cucumis, regulation of sex-expression, disease resistance, biotechnology biosafety, and cucurbit genomics. Members of Dr. Grumet’s lab working on CucCAP include Sue Hammar a technician, and graduate students Ying-Chen Lin and Stephanie Rett.
Kai-Shu Ling
Dr. Ling is a Research Plant Pathologist at the USDA-ARS Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, SC. A postdoctoral researcher will join the Ling lab in Spring 2021 and work on the CucCAP project.
Anthony Keinath
Dr. Keinath is a Professor and a Research and Extension Vegetable Pathologist in the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department at Clemson University. He is located at the Coastal Research and Education Center in Charleston, SC. Sierra Zardus, an Agriculture Associate in Dr. Keinath’s lab will work on the CucCAP project.
