Location: Vegetable Crops Research
2023 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1. Identify unique phenotypic variation in germplasm collections and breeding stocks to improve nutritional and processing quality, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and yield of Cucumis, Daucus and Allium vegetables.
Objective 2. Characterize observed variation and incorporate genetic phenotypes into elite germplasm and breeding stocks of cucumber, carrot, and onion using marker-assisted selection.
Objective 3. Develop and release enhanced germplasm of cucumber, carrot, and onion with superior grower and consumer traits, such as appearance and flavor.
Objective 4. Develop broad spectrum approaches to reduce the impacts of carrot and cucumber pests.
Objective 5. Develop informational resources and tools to evaluate phenotypic and genotypic data from cucumber, carrot, and onion breeding and genetic research.
Approach
The long-term potential for improving a crop is only as great as the breadth of diversity that breeders utilize.
Objective 1. Identify unique phenotypic variation in germplasm collections and breeding stocks to improve nutritional and processing quality, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and yield of Cucumis, Daucus and Allium vegetables.
Information from germplasm evaluation and genetic analysis in Objective 1 sets the stage for developing populations to be used for detailed genetic and molecular analysis.
Objective 2. Characterize observed variation and incorporate genetic phenotypes into elite germplasm and breeding stocks of cucumber, carrot, and onion using marker-assisted selection.
Efficient plant breeding depends on knowledge of the genetic basis of traits under selection and with the selection of advanced populations and lines, elite germplasm will be released.
Objective 3. Develop and release enhanced germplasm of cucumber, carrot, and onion with superior grower and consumer traits, such as appearance and flavor.
The economic costs of pest and disease control, and environmental burden of soil fumigants and pesticides, reduce the sustainability of vegetable production. With the development of new genetic information and genomic tools, including gene editing, along with new pest management strategies, improved cultivars need to be developed and alternative management strategies need to be deployed. An integrated approach is needed to rapidly transition current practices to achieve these goals.
Objective 4. Develop broad spectrum approaches to reduce the impacts of carrot and cucumber pests.
Trait phenotypes, genotypic information, and genetic maps from Objectives 1-4 provide stakeholders with valuable information resources.
Objective 5. Develop informational resources and tools to evaluate phenotypic and genotypic data from cucumber, carrot, and onion breeding and genetic research.
Progress Report
This is the first report for this new project which just began in March 2023 and continues research from the previous project, 5090-21000-069-000D, “Trait Discovery, Genetics, and Enhancement of Allium, Cucumis, and Daucus Germplasm”. Please see the report for the previous project for additional information.
Accomplishments
