CucCAP scientists and collaborators provide an extensive review of the literature to systematically document genes for simply inherited traits, QTL for 130 quantitative traits, and develop recommendations for QTL nomenclature in cucumber. In a separate study, researchers conducted comparative analysis on the genetic basis of fruit size and shape variation among cucumber, melon and watermelon, and revealed both conserved and unique genetic architecture of fruit size/shape variation among cucurbit crops.
CucCAP Project
Contributions to the CucCAP project by the Bioinformatics Team, Cucurbit Crop Breeding Teams, and the Integrated Disease Management Team.
Phytophthora control is a long-term commitment | VGN
CucCAP Vegetable Pathologist, Mary Hausbeck, discusses Phytophthora susceptiblity in cucumbers, summer squash and zucchini.
CucCAP researchers identify genetic loci conferring resistance to Fusarium wilt race 2 and Papaya ring-spot virus-watermelon strain (PRSV-W)
Multiple disease screens of the USDA watermelon germplasm collection have highlighted the value of wild type watermelons as a source for enhancing resistance to diseases in modern watermelon cultivars. CucCAP researchers collaborated with Sakata Seed America on generating genetic populations and on conducting genetic analyses to identify genetic loci that confer resistance to Fusarium wilt and papaya ring-spot virus.
Presentations by CucCAP Scientists at PAG XXVIII
CucCAP participants at PAG XXVIII include cucurbit breeders and genomic scientists. The cucurbit session organizers are Amnon Levi and Patrick Wechter. Presenters include Zhangjun Fei, Rebecca Grumet, Ben N. Mansfeld, Yiqun Weng, Sandra E. Branham, Shaker Kousik, Amnon Levi, and Patrick Wechter, and Umesh Reddy.
The CucCAP Melon Team | 2019
Crop Improvement and Protection Research: Salinas, CA Part of the mission of the Crop Improvement and Protection Research Unit is to determine basic biology of viral, fungal and bacterial diseases affecting melon and improve germplasm of this crop. CucCAP researcher, Jim McCreight heads this group at USDA-ARS and Bill Wintermantel is a part of this group.
CucCAP researchers provide information about susceptibility of commercial watermelon varieties to powdery mildew
The seedless watermelon variety Suprema and seeded variety Declaration were relatively less susceptible to powdery mildew. The commercial pollenizers Lion, SP5 and SP6 were resistant across three years of testing.
Better Cucurbit Varieties Coming Soon | VSCNews
CucCAP plant breeder, Todd Wehner talks about breeding cucumber and watermelon varieties for disease resistance.
CucCAP scientists co-led the development of an improved ‘97103’ watermelon genome and resequencing of 414 watermelon accessions
Watermelon has been domesticated for more than 4000 years and modern sweet watermelons have been selected to carry large fruits with crisp, non-bitter and sweet flesh. The CucCAP team has co-led an international effort to generate an improved watermelon ‘97103’ reference genome and resequence 414 accessions from the seven extant Citrullus species.
