Editorial: translational research for cucurbit molecular breeding: traits, markers, and genes

Authors: Weng, Yiqun; GARCIA-MAS, JORDI - Center For Research In Agricultural Genomics (CRAG); Levi, Amnon; LUAN, FEISHI - Inner Mongolian Agriculture University

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/5/2020
Publication Date: 11/30/2020
Citation: Weng, Y., Garcia-Mas, J., Levi, A., Luan, F. 2020. Editorial: translational research for cucurbit molecular breeding: traits, markers, and genes. Frontiers in Plant Science. 11. Article 615346. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.615346.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.615346

Interpretive Summary: Cucurbits are economically important vegetable crops worldwide. Major cucurbits growing globally include cucumber, melon, watermelon, and squash/pumpkin. Other cucurbits like bitter melon, bottle gourd, winter melon, and luffa are popular in many Asian and African countries. The last decade has witnessed rapid development of genetic and genomics resources including draft genome assemblies, and high-density genetic maps in a dozen cucurbit crops. These applied genomic resources make it possible to accelerate translational research for cucurbit breeding. This Special Topic has a collection of 21 manuscripts of original research or reviews highlighting the achievements and future directions in cucurbit translational research. These articles cover primarily on the following topics: improvement of the cucurbit genome assemblies, identification, and molecular mapping of horticulturally important genes or QTL for horticultural traits, and the use of such knowledge in marker-assisted selection for cucurbit improvement. Major findings from these investigations are summarized in this editorial.

Technical Abstract: Cucurbits are economically important vegetable crops worldwide. Major cucurbits growing globally include cucumber, melon, watermelon, and squash/pumpkin. Other cucurbits like bitter melon, bottle gourd, winter melon, and luffa are popular in many Asian and African countries. The last decade has witnessed rapid development of genetic and genomics resources including draft genome assemblies, and high-density genetic maps in a dozen cucurbit crops. These applied genomic resources make it possible to accelerate translational research for cucurbit breeding. This Special Topic has a collection of 21 manuscripts of original research or reviews highlighting the achievements and future directions in cucurbit translational research. These articles cover primarily on the following topics: improvement of the cucurbit genome assemblies, identification, and molecular mapping of horticulturally important genes or QTL for horticultural traits, and the use of such knowledge in marker-assisted selection for cucurbit improvement. Major findings from these investigations are summarized in this editorial.