Downy mildew (DM) is an important disease of cucumber and other cucurbits. Many quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified from different resistant resources but very few have been fine mapped or cloned. CucCAP researchers in USDA-ARS and the University of Wisconsin Madison reported identification and functional characterization of the candidate gene for the major-effect QTL, dm5.3, for DM resistance from the plant introduction line PI 197088. This gene, which can enhance plant disease signaling, is currently being used to breed for disease resistance in cucumber.
CucCAP Cucumber Team
CucCAP Cucumber Team contributions include annual reports of research activities, publications and presentations, and articles about the team’s research efforts and accomplishments.
Planting Cucumbers Early to Avoid Downy Mildew
Downy mildew affects cucumber crops in South Carolina every year and can cause huge crop losses. Clemson University researchers say planting early can cut growers’ losses.
CucCAP PAGXXIX presentations
CucCAP Cucumber team members made virtual presentations at the 2022 Plant and Animal Genome meeting in January 2022.
2021 CucCAP Cucumber Team Publications and Presentations
Cucumber Team | 2021 Progress Report
The CucCAP Cucumber Team is led by Yiqun Weng. Team objectives are to develop genomic, bioinformatic, mapping approaches and tools for cucurbits, map and develop markers for disease resistance, and QTL introgression into breeding or advanced lines, and release to breeders.
Early Career Scientist Spotlight | Feifan Chen
Feifan Chan’s work in Yiqun Weng’s lab focuses on on pathogen resistance to downy mildew and powdery mildew in cucumber.
CucCAP researchers develop high-throughput method for quantification of pathogen growth
Researchers at Michigan State University used a fluorescent isolate of the broad host range pathogen, Phytophthora capsici, to develop a high-throughput, microtiter plate assay for replicated quantification of pathogen growth on plant tissue in real time. This method, which can detect pathogen growth prior to development of symptoms, can assist with screening for disease resistance, mapping of resistance loci, testing efficacy of control measures, or elucidation of fundamental host-pathogen interactions.
Meet the CucCAP Cucumber Team
The CucCAP cucumber team is breeding cucumbers for resistance to downy mildew and Phytophthora fruit rot.
