Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Docs » CGC » Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 11:96-103 (article 42) 1988
Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 11:96-103 (article 42) 1988
headline bar

Gene List for Cucurbita spp.

Lists of the known genes for the Cucurbitaceae have been published previously in 3 installments (4, 5, 25), and complete, updated gene lists have recently been published for cucumber (CGC 8:86-96), muskmelon (CGC 9:111-120) and watermelon (CGC 10:106-110). In the interest of updating and collecting information on the genetics of Cucurbita in one place, the following is a complete list of known genes. We hope to continue this practice and pubolish a complete list for the Cucurbita spp. every four years.

wf

Gene Symbol

Character

Species

Reference

Preferred
Synonym
 

a

 

androecious. Produces only male flowers

pepo

19

Aat-mb Aspartate aminotransferase-microbody isozume maxima x ecuadorensis42
Aat-m(Aat-m1)Aspartate aminotransferase mitochondria isozyme-1maxima x ecuadorensis42
Aat-m2 Aspartate aminotransferase mitochondria isozyme-2maxima x ecuadorensis42
Aat-p2 Aspartate aminotransferase plastid isozyme-2 maxima x ecuadorensis42
AcpAcp-1Acid phosphatase isozyme-1 maxima x ecuadorensis42
Acp-2 Acid phosphatase isozyme-2maxima x ecuadorensis42
Aldo-p Aldolase - plastid isozyme maxima x ecuadorensis41

B

 

Bicolor fruit. Precocious yellow fruit pigmentation; modified by Ses-B

pepo

34,35

bi

 

bitter fruit. High cucurbitacin content in fruit

pepo

2,15,43

bl

 

blue fruit color. Incompletely recessive to green

maxima

16

Bu

 

bush habit.. Short internodes; dominant to vine habit in young plant stage but recessive at maturity.

pepo maxima

7,33,38

cr

 

cream corolla. Cream to nearly white petals for cr/cr, yellow for cr/+, and orange for +/+; derived from C okeechobeensis

moschata

27

cu cucurbitacin content. Reduced cucurbitacin contentpepo32

D

Dark green stem. Dominant to light green stem

pepo

14

Di Disc fruit shape. Dominant to sphericalpepo37
Est Esterase isozymemaxima x ecuadorensis 40

Fr

 

Fruit fly (Dacus cucurbitae) resistance

maxima

22

G

(a,m)

Gynoecious sex expression

foetidissima

8,13

Gal

(Gal-1)

? -Galactosidase isozyme-1

maxima x ecadorensis

42

Gal-2 ? -Galactosidase isozyme-2 maxima x ecuadorensis 42

Gb

 

Green band on inner side of base of petal; dominant to no band

pepo

9

gc

green corolla.. Green, leaf-like petals

pepo

39

Got(Got-1)Glutamine-oxaloacetate isozyme-1 maxima x ecuadorensis 42
Got-2 Glutamine-oxaloacetate isozyme-2maxima x ecuadorensis 42
GpI-c(Gpi-c1)Glucosephosphate isomerase cytosolic isozyme-1 maxima x ecuadorensis 42
Gpi-c2 Glucosephosphate isomerase cytosolic enzyme-2 maxima x ecuadorensis 42
Gr(G)Green rind. dominant to buff skin of mature fruit moschata26

I-T

 

Inhibitor of the T gene for trifluralin resistance

moschata

1

Idh

(Idh-1)

Isocitrate dehydrogenase isozyme-1

pepo

6,18

Idh-2

Isocitate dehydrogenase isozyme-2

pepo

6,18

Idh-3

 

Isocitrate dehydrogenase isozyme-3

pepo

6,18

l(c)light fruit color. Uniform light intensity of fruit pigmentation; modified by Stpepo14,23,34

1-2

 

light pigmentation of fruit - 2

pepo

23

Lap Leucine ajinopeptidase isozyme maxima x ecuadorensis 40

lo

(l)

lobed leaves

maxima

10

lt leafy tendril. Tendrils with laminae pepo29
ly light yellow corolla. Recessive orange yellow pepo29

M

 

Mottled leaves. Silver gray areas in axils of leaf veins

pepo maxima moschata

3,28,31

Mdh-m

(Mdh-ml)

Malate dehydrogenase mitochondria isozyme-1

maxima x ecuadorensis

42

mDH-m2

 

Malate dehydrogenase mitochondria Isozyme-2

maxima x ecuadorensis

42

Mdh-c2 Malate dehydrogenase cytosoloic isozyme-2 maxima x ecuadorensis42

ms-1

(ms1 )

male sterile-1. Male flowers abort before anthesis

pepo

12

ms-2

(ms2 )

male sterile-2. Male flowers abort

pepo

12

n

 

naked seeds. Lacking a lignified seed coat

pepo

15,30

Per

(Per-1)

Peroxidase isozyme-1

maxima x ecuadorensis

42

Per-3

 

Peroxidase isozyme-3

maxima x ecuadorensis

42

Pgi

(Pgi-1)

Phosphoglucase isomerase isozyme-1

pepo

6,18

pgi-2

 

Phosphoglucase isomerase isozyme-2

pepo

6,18

Pgi-3

 

Phosphoglucase isomerase isoyme-3

pepo

6,18

Pgm-c2

 

Phosphoglucomutase cytosolic isozyme-2

maxima x ecuadorensis

42

Pgm-p Phosphoglucomutase plastid isozymemaxima x ecuadorensis 42

Pm

 

Powdery mildew-resistance. Resistance to Sphaerotheca fuliginea

lundelliana

24

r

 

recessive white, White fruit color

pepo

14

Rd

 

Red skin. Red external fruit color; dominant to green, white, yellow and gray

maxima

20

ro

 

rosette leaf. Lower lobes of leaves slightly spiraled

pepo

21

s

sterile. Male flowers small, without pollen; female flower sterile

maxima

17

Ses-B Selective suppression of gene Bpepo36
Skdh Shikimate dehydrogenase isozymemaxima x ecuadorensis 42
Sod(Sod-1)Superoxisw dismutase isozyme-1 maxima x ecuadorensis 42

St

(1st )

Striped fruit. Longitudinal stripes on fruit, conspicuous if 1 but inconspicuous if 1+

pepo

28

T

 

Trifluralin resistance. Dominant to susceptibility to the herbicide; modified byI-T

moschata

1

Tpi-c2

 

Triosephosphatase isomerase cytosolic isozyme-2

maxima x ecuadorensis

42

Tpi-p2

 

Triosephosphatase isomerase plastid isozyme-2

maxima x ecuadorensis

42

V

 

virescent. Yellow-green young leaves

maxima

11

W

 

White fruit. Dominant to green mature fruit, partially epistatic to Y

pepo

38

Wf

White flesh. Dominant to cream flesh color

pepo

38

Wt

 

Warty fruit. Dominant to smooth

pepo

38

Y

 

Yellow fruit color. Dominant to green

pepo

38

Ygp

 

Yellow-green placenta. Dominant to yellow placental color

pepo

9

ys

 

yellow seedling. Lacking chlorophyll; lethal

pepo

21

It is hoped that scientists will consult the above list as well as the rules of gene nomenclature for the Cucurbitaceae (5, 25) before choosing a gene name and symbol. Thus, inadvertent duplication of gene names and symbols will be prevented. The rules of gene nomenclature were adopted in order to provide guidelines for the naming and symbolizing genes previously reported and those which will be reported in the future. Scientists are urged to contact members of the Gene List Committee regarding questions in interpreting the nomenclature rules and in naming and symbolizing new genes.

Gene List Committee:

Cucumber

Todd C. Wehner

Muskmelon

M. Pitrat

Watermelon

W.R. Henderson

Cucurbita spp. R.W. Robinson
Other Genera: R.W. Robinson

Literature Cited

  1. Adeoye, A.A. and D.P. Coyne. 1981. Inheritance of resistance to trifluralin toxicity in Cucurbita moschata Poir. HortScience 16:774-775.
  2. Contardi, H.G. 1939. Estudios geneticos en "Cucurbita" y consideraciones agronomicas. Physis 18:331-347.
  3. Coyne, D.P. 1970. Inheritance of mottle-leaf in Cucurbita moschata Poir. HortScience 5:226-227.
  4. Cucurbit Gene List Committee. 1979. New Genes for the Cucurbitaceae. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 2:49-53.
  5. Cucurbit Gene List Committee. 1982. Update of cucurbit gene list and nomenclature rules. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 5:62-66.
  6. Decker, D.S. 1985. Numerical analysis of variation in Cucurbita pepo. Econ. Bot. 39:300-309.
  7. Denna, D.W. and H.M. Munger. 1963. Morphology of the bush and vine habits and the allelism of the bush genes in Cucurbita maxima and C. pepo squash. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 82:370-377.
  8. Dossey, B.F., W.P. Bemis and J.C. Scheerens. 1981. Genetic control of gynoecy in the buffalo gourd. J. Heredity 72:355-356.
  9. Dutta, L.P. and P. Nath. 1972. Inheritance of flower and fruit characters in squash, Cucurbita pepo L. Tropical Hort. 1:69-74.
  10. Dyutin, K.E. 1980. (Spontaneous mutant of Cucurbita maxima Duch. Squash with lobed leaves). Genetika 16:176-178. (In Russian)
  11. Dyutin, K.E. 1981. (Inheritance of yellow-green coloration of the young leaves in Cucurbita maxima Duch.). Tsitologiya i Genetika 15(5):81-82. (In Russian)
  12. Eisa, H.M. and H.M. Munger. 1968. Male sterility in Cucurbita pepo. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 92:473-479.
  13. Fulks, B.K., J.C. Scheerens and W.P. Bemis. 1979. Sex expression in Cucurbita foetidisima HBK. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 2:36.
  14. Globerson, D. 1969. The inheritance of white fruit and stem color in summer squash, Cucurbita pepo L. Euphytica 18:249-255.
  15. Grebenscikov, I. 1954. Notulae cucurbiotologicae. I. Zur Vererbung der Bitterkeit and Kurztriebigkeit bei Cucurbita pepo L. Kulturpflanze 2:145-154.
  16. Hutchins, A.E. 1935. The interaction of blue and green color factors in Hubbard squash. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 33:154.
  17. Hutchins, A.E. 1944. A male and female sterile variant in squash, Cucurbita maxima Duch. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 44:494-496.
  18. Kirkpatrick, K.J., D.S. Decker and H.D. Wilson. 1985. Allozyme differentiation in the Cucurbita pepo complex: C. pepo var. medullosa vs. C. texana. Econ.Bot. 39:289-299.
  19. Kubicki, B. 1970. Androecious strains of Cucurbita pepo L. Genet. Polonica 11:45-51.
  20. Lotsy, J.P. 1920. Cucurbita strijdvragen. II. Eigen onderzoekingen. Genetica 2:1-21.
  21. Mains, E.B. 1950. Inheritance in Cucurbita pepo. Papers Mich. Acad. Sci. Arts Letters 36:27-30.
  22. Nath, P., O.P. Dutta, S. Velayudhan and K.R.M. Swamy. 1976. Inheritance of resistance to fruit fly in pumpkin. Sabrao J. 8:117-119.
  23. Paris, H.S. and H. Nerson. 1986. Genes for intense pigmentation of squash. J. Hered. 77:403-409.
  24. Rhodes, A.M. 1964. Inheritance of powdery mildew resistance in the genus Cucurbita. Plant Dis. Rptr. 48:54-55.
  25. Robinson, R.W., H,M, Munger, T.W. Whitaker and G.W. Bohn. 1976. Genes of the Cucurbitaceae. HortScience 11:554-568.
  26. Robinson, R.W. 1987. Inheritance of fruit skin color in Cucurbita moschata. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 10:84.
  27. Roe, N.E. and W.P. Bemis. 1977. Corolla color in Cucurbita. J. Heredity 68:193-194.
  28. Scarchuk, J. 1954. Fruit and leaf characters in summer squash. J. Heredity 45:295-297.
  29. Scarchuk, J. 1974. Inheritance of light yellow corolla and leafy tendrils in gourd (Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera Alef). HortScience 9:464.
  30. Schoniger, G. 1952. Vorlaufige Mitteilung uber das Verhalten der Testa und Farbgene bei versheidenen Kreuzungen innerhalb der Kurbisart Cucurbita pepo L. Zuchter 22:316-337.
  31. Scott, D.H. and M.E. Riner. 1946. A mottled leaf character in winter squash. J. Heredity 37:27-28.
  32. Sharma, G.C. and C.V. Hall. 1971. Cucurbitacin B and total sugar inheritance in Cucurbita pepo related to spotted cucumber beetle feeding. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 96:750-754.
  33. Shifriss, O. 1947. Developmental reversal of dominance in Cucurbita pepo. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 50:330-346.
  34. Shifriss, O. 1955. Genetics and origin of the bicolor gourds. J. Heredity 46:213-222.
  35. Shifriss, O. 1966. Behavior of gene B in Cucurbita. Veg. Improvement Newsletter 8:7-8.
  36. Shifriss, O. 1982. Identification of a selective suppressor gene in cucurbita pepo L. HortScience 17:637-638.
  37. Sinnott, E.W. 1922. Inheritance of fruit shape in Cucurbita pepo I. Bot. Gaz. 74:95-103.
  38. Sinnott, E.W. and G.B. Durham,. 1922. Inheritance in the summer squash. J. Heredity 13:177-186.
  39. Superak, T.H. 1987. A green corolla mutant in cucurbita pepo/ Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 10:103.
  40. Wall, J.R. and T.W. Whitaker. 1971. Genetic control of leucine aminopeptidase and esterase isozymes in the interspecific cross cucurbita ecuadorensis x C. maxima. Biochem Genet. 5:223-229.
  41. Weeden, N.F., R.W. Robinson and F. Ignart. 1984. Linkage between an isozyme locus and one of the genes controlling resistance to watermelon mosaic virus 2 in Cucurbita ecuadorensis. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 7:86.
  42. Weeden, N.F. and R.W. Robinson. 1986. Allozyme segregation ratios in the interspecific cross cucurbita maxima x ecuadorensis suggest that hybrid breakdown is not caused by minor alterations in chromosome structure. Genetics 114:593-609.
  43. Whitaker, T.W. 1951. A species cross in Cucurbits. J. Hered. 42:65-69.