“The super-pangenome provides a valuable genetic toolkit for breeders and researchers to improve cultivated watermelon,” said Fei. “By understanding the genetic makeup and evolutionary patterns of watermelons, we can develop varieties with enhanced yield, increased disease resistance, and improved adaptability.”
The “super-pangenome” for watermelon and its wild relatives, the researchers hope, will uncover beneficial genes lost during domestication. Traits of interest affect seeds; rind thickness; fruit size, shape, texture, and sweetness; and improving disease resistance, which might lessen reliance on agrochemicals.
