Project Number: 3655-21000-037-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jul 03, 2003
End Date: Jul 02, 2008

Objective:
Objective 1: Continue research to characterize Daucus, Allium, and Cucurbit germplasms for diversity and beneficial traits. Objective 2: Continue research to determine the genetic basis of, and initiate or continue selection for, carrot, onion, and cucumber quality attributes influencing human nutrition and health (genetics of pigment bioavailability in carrot and onion and antiplatelet activity and fructan synthesis in onion) and flavor (carrot terpenoid and carbohydrate genetics and onion pungency). Objective 3: Continue research to determine the genetic basis of, and initiate or continue selection for, disease resistances in carrot, onion, and cucumber, including root-knot nematodes and Alternaria leaf blight in carrot, smut in onion, and potyviral resistances in cucumber and other cucurbits. Objective 4: Continue research to determine the genetic basis of yield components including multiple lateral branching in cucurbits and performing yield trials for carrot, onion, and cucumber. Objective 5: Continue or initiate biotechnology research in Daucus, Allium, and Cucurbit germplasms and development of genetic stocks including map construction using candidate genes, SCARs, SNPs, cytogenetic stocks, and the organellar genomes; genomics and fine mapping of pigment and carbohydrate genetics in carrot and onion, nematode resistance genes in carrot, and epistasis and yield in cucumber; marker-assisted selection of carrot nematode resistance, onion male sterility, and cucumber yield; and transgene escape in Cucurbits.

Approach:
Continue research to characterize Daucus, Allium, and Cucurbit germplasms for diversity and beneficial traits for the development for improved germplasms and management strategies for genetic resources. Continue research to determine the genetic basis of, and initiate or continue selection for, carrot, onion, and cucumber quality attributes influencing human nutrition and health (genetics of pigment bioavailability in carrot and onion and antiplatelet activity and fructan synthesis in onion) and flavor (carrot terpenoid and carbohydrate genetics and onion pungency). Continue research to determine the genetic basis of, and initiate or continue selection for, disease resistances in carrot, onion, and cucumber, including root-knot nematodes and Alternaria leaf blight in carrot, smut in onion, and potyviral resistances in cucumber and other cucurbits. Continue research to determine the genetic basis of yield components including multiple lateral branching in Cucurbits and performing yield trials for carrot, onion, and cucumber. Continue or initiate biotechnology research in Daucus, Allium, and Cucurbit germplasms and development of genetic stocks including map construction using candidate genes, SCARs, SNPs, and the organellar genomes; genomics and fine mapping of pigment and carbohydrate genetics in carrot and onion, nematode resistance genes in carrot, and epistasis and yield in cucumber; marker-assisted selection of carrot nematode resistance, onion and carrot male sterility, and cucumber yield; cucurbit organellar genetics; transgene escape in Cucurbits; and transgene escape in Cucurbits. BSL-1; Recertified through August 6, 2006. Certificate #SC03-136R.