Dr. Wang and collaborating scientists contribute to an international effort to develop a genomic search engine for horticultural crops.
CucCAP Genomics & Bioinformatics Team
Genomics & BioinformaticsTeam contributions to the CucCAP grant including captioned images of research activities, publications available online, and articles about the team’s research efforts and accomplishments.
CucCAP scientists examine embryo rescue as approach to increase diversity in cucurbit crops
Dr. Umesh Reddy and colleagues at West Virginia State University describe the principles, applications, and recent advancements in embryo rescue technology to promote crop improvement in cucurbit species.
CucCAP scientists develop genomic and pan-genomic resources for bottle gourd and identify novel genes associated with biotic and abiotic resistances
Highly differentiated genomic regions among different populations harbor many genes related to disease resistance and stress tolerance, potentially contributing to their local adaptations.
Genomics and Bioinformatics Team | 2024 Progress Report
View the Genomics Team progress report including all tables and figures in pages 12 – 19 of the pdf version of this report.
Early Career Scientist Spotlight | Xuebo Zhao
Xuebo Zhao is a postdoctoral researcher in the Fei Lab at Boyce Thompson Institute. The focus of Xuebo’s work is genomics. Her research is to unravel the evolution of Cucurbits using pan-genome.
Sequencing watermelon reveals disease-resistance genes bred out generations ago
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute in Ithaca, New York, have analyzed genomes of watermelon and its ancestors, revealing traits that early breeders may have inadvertently removed in their quest to maximize the red, sweet, watery flesh of the fruit. Their report appears in Plant Biotechnology Journal.
Super-pangenome for watermelon and its wild relatives
“The super-pangenome provides a valuable genetic toolkit for breeders and researchers to improve cultivated watermelon,” said Fei. “By understanding the genetic makeup and evolutionary patterns of watermelons, we can develop varieties with enhanced yield, increased disease resistance, and improved adaptability.”
The “super-pangenome” for watermelon and its wild relatives, the researchers hope, will uncover beneficial genes lost during domestication. Traits of interest affect seeds; rind thickness; fruit size, shape, texture, and sweetness; and improving disease resistance, which might lessen reliance on agrochemicals.
