Extension Team | 2020 CucCAP Progress Report

Team members Jonathan Schultheis (NC State University), Mary Hausbeck (Michigan State University), Angela Linares (University of Puerto Rico), Jim McCreight (USDA, ARS), Lina Quesada (NC State University), and Chris Smart (Cornell University) developed a centralized cucurbit disease website, developed and posted diagnostic resources and disease control information, provided diagnostic and disease management assistance, conducted field days, cucurbit variety trials, and disease demonstration plots.

Continue reading


Genomics and Bioinformatics Team | 2019 CucCAP Progress Report

Report from Team members: Zhangjun Fei (Boyce Thompson Institute), Umesh Reddy (West Virginia St. Univ), Amnon Levi (USDA, ARS),  Yiqun Weng (USDA, ARS),  Michael Mazourek (Cornell University), Pat Wechter (USDA, ARS), Rebecca Grumet (Michigan State University) on Developing genomic and bioinformatic platforms for cucurbit crops and Performing GBS analysis of PI collections, establish core populations of the four species, and provide community resource for genome wide association studies (GWAS).

Continue reading


Watermelon Team | 2019 CucCAP Progress Report

Watermelon Team members: Amnon Levi (USDA, ARS), Shaker Kousik (USDA, ARS), Kai-shu Ling (USDA, ARS), Cecilia McGregor (Univ. Georgia), Pat Wechter (USDA, ARS), Todd Wehner (North Carolina St. Univ.)
Overall objectives: Identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with resistance to major and emerging diseases, developing useful molecular markers and utilizing the genomic tools to incorporate resistance into watermelon cultivars.
Major diseases: Gummy stem blight, Fusarium wilt, Powdery mildew, Phytophthora fruit rot, Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) and Cucumber green motile mosaic virus (CGMMV).

Continue reading


Cucumber Team | 2019 CucCAP Progress Report

Team members: Yiqun Weng (USDA, ARS), Rebecca Grumet (Michigan St. Univ.), Todd Wehner (North Carolina St. Univ.) report on GBS of PI lines and GWAS panel selection, Phenotyping of morphological traits and DM resistance in cucumber natural populations, QTL mapping, marker development for DM and PFR resistances, Phytophthora capsici fruit rot resistance in cucumber, Young fruit resistance to P. capsici, Age-related resistance (ARR) to P. capsici, Defense response in ARR+ fruit., QTL mapping of ARR., Advanced line development for downy mildew resistance, Breeding line development for DM resistance, and RIL development and evaluation of DM resistance in 2018 & 2019.

Continue reading