Abstract
Originally from Africa, watermelon is a staple crop in South Carolina and rich source of important phytochemicals that promote human health. As a result of many years of domestication and selection for desired fruit quality, modern watermelon cultivars are susceptible to biotic and abiotic stress. The present review discusses how genetic selection and breeding combined with geospatial technologies (precision agriculture) may help enhance watermelon varieties for resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Gene loci identified and selected in undomesticated watermelon accessions are responsible for resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. Vegetable breeding programs use traditional breeding methodologies and genomic tools to introduce gene loci conferring biotic or abiotic resistance into the genome background of elite watermelon cultivars. This continuous approach of collecting, evaluating and identifying useful genetic material is valuable for enhancing genetic diversity and tolerance and combined with precision agriculture could increase food security in the Southeast.
Highlights
Watermelon is a vegetable crop known for its beneficial phytochemicals for human health
Breeding efforts using the three zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV)-resistance molecular markers developed by Ling et al (2009) and Harris et al (2010) have yielded advanced watermelon lines BC3F5 and BC4F4 that contain resistance to ZYMV
Because multiple resistance genes were identified in the Citrullus amarus (Ca) Plant Introductions (PIs) it was suggested that the PIs could represent valuable genetic material to be used as rootstock (Thies et al, 2010, 2015; Levi et al, 2013, 2017)
Summary
Watermelon is a vegetable crop known for its beneficial phytochemicals for human health. In efforts to circumvent future food insecurity, scientists all over the world have focused on the development of varieties that manifest resistance to different diseases, pests, drought and salt as well as on harvesting novel technology for reducing crop placements such as nutrients, pesticides and water through the utilization of precision agriculture. Watermelon is one of the vegetables that was used in demonstrations farms to educate local farmers as well as to test and identify best local seed varieties (USAID, 2017). To address these problems researches use different methods to incorporate resistance into plants (traditional breeding, plant transformation, CRISPR-CAS9). Received in revised form: 15 Feb 2018.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
