Molecular breeding research in USDA-ARS cucumber improvement program - past, present and future

Authors: Weng, Yiqun

Submitted to: Journal of Tianjin Agricultural Sciences
Publication Type: Literature Review
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2019
Publication Date: 8/31/2019
Citation: Weng, Y. 2019. Molecular breeding research in USDA-ARS cucumber improvement program - past, present and future. Journal of Tianjin Agricultural Sciences. 25(6):6-18.

Interpretive Summary: Established in 1968, the Cucumber Improvement Program of the USDA-ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit (VCRU) located in Madison, Wisconsin is dedicated to cucumber germplasm enhancement research. In the last 50 years, accomplishments made in this lab contributed significantly to US cucumber production, as well as cucumber breeding around the world. This review gives a brief introduction of the history of this lab, and major achievements in cucumber genetics and breeding research with focus on work in the last decade in the following four areas: 1) Development of essential genetic tools for cucumber molecular breeding, 2) Molecular tagging of genes for horticulturally important genes in cucumber and, 3) Elucidation of the origin, chromosome evolution, domestication and genetic diversity of cucumber. This paper also discusses the impacts on cucumber breeding and future directions of work. This is the first review of 50 years’ contribution of the USDA Cucumber Improvement Program, which will help the readers have a better big picture on the achievements of the VCRU. This review will also help breeders in the use of molecular markers in cucumber molecular breeding.

Technical Abstract: Established in 1968, the Cucumber Improvement Program of the USDA-ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit (VCRU) located in Madison, Wisconsin is dedicated to cucumber germplasm enhancement research. In the last 50 years, accomplishments made in this lab contributed significantly to US cucumber productions as well as cucumber breeding around the world. This review gives a brief introduction of the history of this lab, and major achievements in cucumber genetics and breeding research with focus on work in the last decade in the following four areas: 1) Development of essential genetic tools for cucumber molecular breeding, 2) Molecular tagging of genes for horticulturally important genes in cucumber, 3) Elucidation of the origin, chromosome evolution, domestication and genetic diversity of cucumber. This paper also discusses the impacts on cucumber breeding and future directions of work. This is the first review of 50 years’ contribution of the USDA Cucumber Improvement Program, which will help the readers to have a better, big picture on the achievements of VCRU. This review will also help breeders in the use of molecular markers in cucumber molecular breeding.