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Watermelon is a globally vital agricultural product, each by way of the overall quantity produced and the overall financial worth generated.
Scientists on the Boyce Thompson Institute have constructed a complete “super-pangenome” for watermelon and its wild family members, uncovering helpful genes misplaced throughout domestication that might enhance illness resistance and fruit high quality of this very important fruit crop.
“We aimed to delve deeper into the genetic variations that make watermelons so numerous and distinctive,” acknowledged Professor Zhangjun Fei, the research’s lead writer. “Our findings not solely present insights into the evolutionary journey of watermelons but additionally current vital implications for breeding and illness resistance.”
The watermelon super-pangenome was constructed utilizing reference genome sequences and genome resequencing information from 547 watermelon accessions spanning 4 species — cultivated watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and its wild family members C. mucosospermus, C. amarus, and C. colocynthis.
Analyses of the super-pangenome revealed that many disease-resistance genes current in wild species had been misplaced throughout domestication, as early farmers chosen for fruit high quality traits like sweetness, flesh colour, and rind thickness. “These helpful genes could possibly be reintroduced into fashionable cultivars to breed extra resilient watermelon varieties,” famous Fei.
A key discovery of the analysis, not too long ago printed within the Plant Biotechnology Journal, was the identification of a tandem duplication of the sugar transporter gene ClTST2 that enhances sugar accumulation and fruit sweetness in cultivated watermelon. This genetic variant was uncommon in wild watermelons however was chosen throughout domestication.
“The super-pangenome gives a worthwhile genetic toolkit for breeders and researchers to enhance cultivated watermelon,” stated Fei. “By understanding the genetic make-up and evolutionary patterns of watermelons, we are able to develop varieties with enhanced yield, elevated illness resistance, and improved adaptability.”
This analysis was supported by grants from the USDA Nationwide Institute of Meals and Agriculture Specialty Crop Analysis Initiative (2015-51181-24285 and 2020-51181-32139) and the US Nationwide Science Basis (IOS-1855585).
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