Umesh Reddy and team at WVSU and Amnon Levi and team at USDA, ARS used advance genome sequencing technology to study the effect of genome doubling on gene expression in tetraploid watermelon versus their counterpart diploid watermelon parental plants.
CucCAP Watermelon Team
Watermelon Team contributions to the CucCAP grant including, publications, presentations, and updates about the team’s genomic, breeding and disease management efforts.
Early Career Scientist Spotlight | Samikshya Rijal
CucCAP scientist Samikshya Rijal is working on watermelon breeding and genetics. Her primary goal is to assist in the development of gummy stem blight (GSB) resistant breeding material.
CucCAP scientists identify possible sources of resistance to bacterial fruit blotch in watermelon
Bacterial fruit blotch caused by Acidovorax citrulli is a serious disease of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in the U.S. Currently, there are no varieties resistant to the disease. In a 3-year study, 1452 accessions and cultivars were tested for resistance to fruit blotch at the immature fruit stage, where resistance is most important for growers.
Watermelon researchers identify metabolic pathways and genome sequence
CucCAP researcher Amnon Levi collaborated with other scientists at the USDA ARS to develop a pioneering concept of using big data and computational biology to identify and catalog all of the phytochemicals that exist in edible fruit.
Meet the CucCAP Watermelon Team
The CucCAP Watermelon team is led by USDA-ARS Research Geneticist Amnon Levi. Co-investigators include Sandra Branham, Cecelia McGregor, Kai-Shu Ling, Shaker Kousik, Umesh Reddy, and Pat Wechter.
CucCAP scientists identify QTL associated with gummy stem blight in watermelon
We identified QTLs associated with gummy stem blight resistance in an interspecific F2:3 Citrullus population and developed marker assays for selection of the loci in watermelon.
CucCAP researchers identify new loci for resistance to powdery mildew in watermelon
The Kousik Lab published “Elucidation of resistance signaling and identification of powdery mildew resistant mapping loci (ClaPMR2) during watermelon-Podosphaera xanthii interaction using RNA-Seq and whole-genome resequencing approach”.
PPI presents Todd Wehner with Hall of Fame Award | NC State News
CucCAP watermelon and cucumber breeder Todd Wehner recently earned a top international industry recognition, Pickle Packers International’s Hall of Fame Award.
