PAG brings together over 3,000 leading genetic scientists and researchers in plant and animal research, and over 130 exhibits, 150 workshops, 1100 posters and over 1800 abstracts.
Levi Lab @ USDA-ARS
Amnon Levi is a geneticist and project leader at the USDA-ARS Vegetable research laboratory in Charleston, SC, the CucCAP Watermelon team leader, and a CucCAP Bioinformatics team member. Sandra Branham is a postdoctoral research scientist in the lab.
CucCAP researchers identify genetic loci conferring resistance to Fusarium wilt race 2 and Papaya ring-spot virus-watermelon strain (PRSV-W)
Fusarium wilt (FW) and papaya ring-spot virus-watermelon strain (PRSV-W) are important diseases of watermelon, causing serious damage to the crop. 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. The CucCAP team at the USDA, […]
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. Presentations by CucCAP authors include: QTL and Transcrptomic Analyses Implicate Cuticule Transcription Factor Shine As a Source of Natural Variation for Epidermal Traits in Cucumber: Zhangjun Fei, Rebecca Grumet, Ben N. Mansfeld, and Yiqun Weng De Novo Genome Assembly of Sweet […]
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.
CucCAP Researchers Map New Source of Resistance to Bacterial Fruit Blotch in Watermelon
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) of cucurbits caused by Acidovorax citrulli has the potential to devastate production of watermelon and other cucurbits. Despite decades of research, no watermelon germplasm has been found with immunity, and only a few sources with various levels of resistance have been identified.
2018 Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Annual Report
The Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative (CGC) was established in 1977 to develop and advance the genetics of economically important cucurbits. CucCAP Team members have contributed many articles to the Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative throughout the years. Members of the CucCAP Team contributing to CGC report#41 for 2018 include authors Todd Wehner and Jim McCreight along with editors, Amnon Levi and Linda Wessel-Beaver.
The Science Behind a Favorite Summertime Treat | USDA
65 years after its debut, the “Charleston Gray” watermelon is back in the spotlight. In a long-term study, a research team led by ARS geneticist Amnon Levi at the U.S. Vegetable Laboratory collaborated with scientists at the Boyce Thompson Institute to unlock the genome of “Charleston Gray.” Read the article from USDA
CucCAP scientists release genome of principal American watermelon cultivar and genetically characterize the National Plant Germplasm System watermelon collection
Years of selection for desirable fruit quality traits in dessert watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has resulted in a narrow genetic base in modern cultivars. Development of novel genomic and genetic resources offers great potential to expand genetic diversity and improve important traits in watermelon. The CucCAP team has developed a high‐quality genome sequence for the principal […]
