Bazgha Zia is a postdoctoral researcher at the United States Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, S.C. Bazgha’s research includes the development of virus resistant genetic material in cucurbits and identification of novel virus strains.
Ling Lab @ USDA-ARS
Kai-Shu Ling, a member of the CucCAP watermelon team, is a Research Plant Pathologist at the USDA Vegetable Research Lab in Charleston, S.C.
Cucumber Team | 2023 Progress Report
Watermelon Team | 2023 Progress Report
SC Grower Weekly Report | May 15, 2023
In the Coastal region, squash, and cukes continue to be harvested in heavy volumes.
In the Midlands, squash are fairing well with a few squash bugs here and there. The biggest problem so far has been wind damage and breakage.
In the Pee Dee region, Summer crops (peppers, tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers, squash, sweet corn, etc.) are growing well and are still being planted heavily.
Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group
The Emerging Viruses in Cucurbits Working Group (EVCWG) is charged with improving communication and virus knowledge across the cucurbit industry as well as developing strategies to successfully identify and mitigate virus threats to cucurbit production in the United States.
Early Career Scientist Spotlight | Bidisha Chanda
Before her current position as a Genetic Purity Lab Manager in the Quality Assurance Department at Sakata Seed America, Inc., in Salinas California, Bidisha Chanda worked for the USDA and conducted research for the CucCAP watermelon team at the US Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina.
CucCAP scientists examine mechanisms of watermelon resistance to viral infection
Watermelon production in the U.S. and around the world faces serious threats by viral diseases, including aphid-transmitted potyviruses: papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) and zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV). In a recent study, a CucCAP team examined expression of anti-microbial/anti-viral, ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) in watermelons in response to inoculation with PRSV. The PRSV-resistant citron watermelon (Citrullus amarus) exhibited high RIP expression, versus low expression in plants of the susceptible, cultivated “Charleston Gray” watermelon. This finding may offer additional genetic and genomic resources for improving potyvirus-resistance in watermelon cultivars.
Watermelon Team | 2021 Progress Report
The watermelon team is led by Amnon Levi. Team objectives are to develop genomic, bioinformatic, mapping approaches and tools for cucurbits, map and develop markers for disease resistance, and introgress, pyramid/stack resistances into advanced breeding lines.