International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 117-126 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 117 Invited Review Open Access Genomic Advances in Cucurbitaceae: Implications for Crop Improvement and Breeding Xuewen Xu, Xiaodong Yang, Xuehao Chen School of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: xhchen@yzu.edu.cn International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol.14, No.3 doi: 10.5376/ijh.2024.14.0013 Received: 17 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 30 Apr., 2024 Published: 10 May, 2024 Copyright © 2024 Xu et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Xu X.W., Yang X.D., and Chen X.H., 2024, Genomic advances in Cucurbitaceae: implications for crop improvement and breeding, International Journal of Horticulture, 14(3): 117-126 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2024.14.0013) Abstract The Cucurbitaceae family, encompassing a wide array of economically and nutritionally significant crops, has been the focus of extensive genomic research aimed at enhancing breeding and crop improvement. Recent advancements in sequencing technologies and bioinformatics have led to the sequencing of genomes from various Cucurbitaceae species, providing valuable insights into gene identification, genome evolution, and genetic variation. This has opened new avenues for molecular breeding, leveraging genetic transformation and gene editing technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9, to overcome the limitations of conventional breeding methods. The integration of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and omics approaches has furthered our understanding of complex traits, such as disease resistance and fruit quality, and has facilitated the development of high-density genetic maps and the identification of functional genes. Additionally, the construction of genetic and cytogenetic maps has been instrumental in revealing the genomic structure of cucurbit crops, aiding in the alignment of linkage groups with chromosomes and enhancing marker-assisted selection. The exploration of genetic diversity through the analysis of wild Cucurbitaceae species using cytogenetic mapping has also contributed to the phylogenetic understanding and breeding resource development. With the accumulation of genomic resources and the advent of high-throughput genotyping methods, new strategies such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the use of multi-parent populations have emerged, leading to the discovery of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for key agronomic traits. The synergy of these genomic tools and their implications for breeding is poised to revolutionize the improvement of Cucurbitaceae crops, ensuring food security and meeting the demands of a growing population. Keywords Cucurbitaceae; Genomic sequencing; Genetic transformation; Gene editing; Genetic linkage map; Cytogenetic mapping; Marker-assisted selection; Genome-wide association studies; Quantitative trait loci Introduction The Cucurbitaceae family, encompassing a wide array of economically significant and diverse crops, is integral to global agriculture and human nutrition. This family includes species such as cucumbers, melons, squashes, and pumpkins, which are not only staples in diets worldwide but also hold cultural and medicinal value (Grumet et al., 2017). The genetic diversity within this family is remarkable, with genome sequences available for multiple species across different tribes, providing a rich resource for understanding evolutionary relationships and agronomic traits (Ma et al., 2022). In the realm of agriculture, genomic research has become a cornerstone for crop improvement and breeding programs. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and omics technologies has revolutionized our approach to plant breeding, allowing for a more profound understanding of the genotype-phenotype relationship, particularly for complex traits (Pawełkowicz et al., 2016). These advancements have facilitated the identification of functional genes, the development of molecular markers, and the construction of high-density genetic linkage maps, which are crucial for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding (Ren et al., 2009; Fukino and Kawazu, 2016). Moreover, the recent progress in genetic transformation and gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, has opened new avenues for enhancing cucurbit crops' genetic diversity and overcoming the limitations of conventional breeding methods (Feng et al., 2023).
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