Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #391269
Research Project: Conservation, Characterization, Evaluation, and Distribution of Grain, Oilseed, Vegetable, Subtropical and Tropical Legume, and Warm Season Grass Genetic Resources and Associated Information

Location: Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit

Title: The genome sequence of Citrullus naudinianus (Sond.) Hook. f.

Author
item Jarret, Robert - Bob
item DUDCHENKO, OLGA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item WEISZ, DAVID - Baylor College Of Medicine
item KHAN, RUQAYYA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item AIDEN, EREZ - Baylor College Of Medicine

Submitted to: Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/11/2022
Publication Date: 6/11/2022
Citation: Jarret, R.L., Dudchenko, O., Weisz, D., Khan, R., Aiden, E. 2022. The genome sequence of Citrullus naudinianus (Sond.) Hook. f.. Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report. 44:4-6.

Interpretive Summary: The gemsbok cucumber is a plant related to the watermelon. This blog posting describes the completion of the sequencing of its genetic material in an effort to further examine how this plant might be used to improve the watermelon crop.

Technical Abstract: The genome sequence of Citrullus naudinianus, a watermelon-related species bearing small (6-12cm in length) oval-shaped fruits with a watery pulp-like interior, is reported. This species is native to southern Africa including Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It represents the basal branch in the taxonomic tree of Citrullus and the Citrullus species most distantly related to the common watermelon. Unlike all other members of the genus Citrullus, C. naudinianus is dioecious having separate male and female plants. The genome is approximately 1Gb in size and assembled into the expected 11 pseudo-chromosomes.