Combined genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses provide insights into the fruit development of bottle gourd ().

Bottle gourd ( (Molina) Standl) is a widely distributed Cucurbitaceae species, but gaps and low-quality assemblies have limited its genomic study. To address this, we assembled a nearly complete, high-quality genome of the bottle gourd (Pugua) using PacBio HiFi sequencing and Hi-C correction. The genome, being 298.

Melatonin Enhances the Low-Calcium Stress Tolerance by Regulating Brassinosteroids and Auxin Signals in Wax Gourd.

In plants, calcium (Ca) serves as an essential nutrient and signaling molecule. Melatonin is a biologically active and multi-functional hormone that plays an important role in improving nutrient use efficiency. However, its involvement in plant responses to Ca deficiency remains largely unexplored.

Map-based cloning revealed BhAPRR2 gene regulating the black peel formation of mature fruit in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida).

Map-based cloning revealed BhAPRR2, encoding a two-component response-regulating protein that regulates the black peel formation of mature fruit in wax gourd. Wax gourd is an economically significant vegetable crop, and peel color is a crucial agronomic trait that influences its commercial value. Although genes controlling light green or white peel have been cloned in wax gourd, the genetic basis and molecular mechanism underlying black peel remain unclear.

Genome-wide identification of the OVATE family proteins and functional analysis of BhiOFP1, BhiOFP5, and BhiOFP18 during fruit development in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida).

OVATE family proteins (OFPs) are transcriptional regulators in plants. They have a common domain called the OVATE domain and control the development of leaves, fruits, and flowers in plants. Although the OFP gene family has been widely explored in the plant kingdom, the identification and characterization of this family have not yet been performed in wax gourd.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and population genomics reveals crucial selection for subgynoecy development in chieh-qua.

Chieh-qua is an important cucurbit crop and very popular in South China and Southeast Asia. Despite its significance, its genetic basis and domestication history are unclear. In this study, we have successfully generated a chromosome-level reference genome assembly for the chieh-qua 'A36' using a hybrid assembly strategy that combines PacBio long reads and Illumina short reads.

A nonsynonymous mutation in BhLS, encoding an acyl-CoA N-acyltransferase leads to fruit and seed size variation in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida).

Wax gourd (Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn., 2n = 2x = 24) is an economically important vegetable crop cultivated widely in many tropical and subtropical regions, including China, India, and Japan.

Fine mapping and candidate gene analysis of gynoecy trait in chieh-qua ( Cogn. var. How).

Gynoecy demonstrates an earlier production of hybrids and a higher yield and improves the efficiency of hybrid seed production. Therefore, the utilization of gynoecy is beneficial for the genetic breeding of chieh-qua. However, little knowledge of gynoecious-related genes in chieh-qua has been reported until now.

A chromosome-level reference genome of the wax gourd (Benincasa hispida).

The wax gourd (Benincasa hispida), the only species in the genus Benincasa, is an important crop native to Asia that has been widely planted for multi-purpose uses. The first wax gourd draft genome was published three years ago, but it was incomplete and highly-fragmented due to data and technical limitations. Herein, we report a new chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of B.

A transcriptome analysis of revealed the pathways and genes involved in response to infection.

Wilt disease caused by infection is one of the most serious threats to production. However, the mechanism of the response of to a infection remains largely unknown. In the present study, two cultivars with different degrees of resistance to were identified: B488 (a moderately resistant cultivar) and B214 (a moderately susceptible cultivar).

Genome-Wide Identification of the Gene Family in Wax Gourd () and Functional Characterization of during Fruit Development.

The wax gourd () is an important vegetable crop whose fruits contain nutrients and metabolites. () genes constitute the largest early auxin-responsive gene family and regulate various biological processes in plants, although this gene family has not been studied in the wax gourd. Here, we performed genome-wide identification of the gene family in wax gourds and analyzed their syntenic and phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, -acting elements, and expression patterns.

Genome-wide association study and genetic mapping of BhWAX conferring mature fruit cuticular wax in wax gourd.

Background: Wax gourd [Benincasa hispida (Thunb) Cogn. (2n = 2x = 24)] is an economically important vegetable crop of genus Benincasa in the Cucurbitaceae family. Fruit is the main consumption organ of wax gourd.

Genetic mapping and genome-wide association study identify as the candidate gene regulating seed shape in wax gourd ().

Wax gourd is an important vegetable crop of the Cucurbitaceae family. According to the shape and structure of the seed coat, the seeds of the wax gourd can be divided into bilateral and unilateral. Bilateral seeds usually germinate quickly and have a high germination rate than unilateral seeds.

A time-course transcriptome analysis of wax gourd fruit development reveals predominant genes regulating taste and nutrition.

Wax gourd, which belongs to Cucurbitaceae, is an excellent plant resource with the concomitant function of both medicine and foodstuff. Its unique taste and rich nutrition are deeply accepted by consumers. However, the main flavor and nutrients are still unclear, which restricts the quality breeding process of wax gourd.

Magnesium Deficiency Reduced the Yield and Seed Germination in Wax Gourd by Affecting the Carbohydrate Translocation.

Magnesium (Mg) is a particular mineral nutrient greatly affecting the size and activity of sink organs. Wax gourd crop with its fruits having fresh weight up to 20-50 kg per single fruit serves as an excellent experimental plant species for better understanding the role of varied Mg nutrition in sink strength and yield formation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Mg deficiency on fruit yield and seed vigor in wax gourd grown under field conditions.

Understanding the heat resistance of cucumber through leaf transcriptomics.

Heat stress is a major environmental factor limiting plant productivity and quality in agriculture. Cucumber, one of the most important vegetables among cucurbitaceae, prefers to grow in a warm environment. Until now the molecular knowledge of heat stress in cucumber remained unclear.

Metabolic and transcriptomic analysis of two Cucurbita moschata germplasms throughout fruit development.

Background: Pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata; Cucurbitaceae) are valued for their fruits and seeds and are rich in nutrients. Carotenoids and sugar contents, as main feature of pumpkin pulp, are used to determine the fruit quality.

Results: Two pumpkin germplasms, CMO-X and CMO-E, were analyzed regarding the essential quality traits such as dry weight, soluble solids, organic acids, carotenoids and sugar contents.

The dynamic transcriptome of pepper (Capsicum annuum) whole roots reveals an important role for the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway in root resistance to Phytophthora capsici.

Phytophthora root rot, caused by the soilborne oomycete pathogen Phytophthora capsici (Leon.), is a devastating disease causing significant losses in pepper production worldwide. To uncover the mechanism of root-mediated resistance to P.

The wax gourd genomes offer insights into the genetic diversity and ancestral cucurbit karyotype.

The botanical family Cucurbitaceae includes a variety of fruit crops with global or local economic importance. How their genomes evolve and the genetic basis of diversity remain largely unexplored. In this study, we sequence the genome of the wax gourd (Benincasa hispida), which bears giant fruit up to 80 cm in length and weighing over 20 kg.

A high-density genetic map developed by specific-locus amplified fragment (SLAF) sequencing and identification of a locus controlling anthocyanin pigmentation in stalk of Zicaitai (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis var. purpurea).

Background: Caixin and Zicaitai (Brassica rapa) belong to Southern and Central China respectively. Zicaitai contains high amount of anthocyanin in leaf and stalk resulting to the purple color. Stalk is the major edible part and stalk color is an economically important trait for the two vegetables.

Cloning and characterization of WRKY gene homologs in Chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida Cogn. var. Chieh-qua How) and their expression in response to fusaric acid treatment.

The WRKY transcription factors play an important role in plant resistance for biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present study, we cloned 10 WRKY gene homologs (CqWRKY) in Chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida Cogn. var.

High-density genetic map construction and gene mapping of pericarp color in wax gourd using specific-locus amplified fragment (SLAF) sequencing.

Background: High-density map is a valuable tool for genetic and genomic analysis. Although wax gourd is a widely distributed vegetable of Cucurbitaceae and has important medicinal and health value, no genetic map has been constructed because of the lack of efficient markers. Specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) is a newly developed high-throughput strategy for large-scale single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery and genotyping.

Characterization and chromosomal organization of Ty1-copia retrotransposons in wax gourd.

Wax gourd (2n=2x=24) is an important vegetable species in Cucurbitaceae. Because it can be stored for a very long period of time, it plays an important role in ensuring the annual supply and regulating off-season supply of the vegetables. However, the availability of genetic information about wax gourd is limited.

De novo assembly and characterization of the transcriptome, and development of SSR markers in wax gourd (Benicasa hispida).

Background: Wax gourd is a widely used vegetable of Cucuribtaceae, and also has important medicinal and health values. However, the genomic resources of wax gourd were scarcity, and only a few nucleotide sequences could be obtained in public databases.

Methodology/principal Findings: In this study, we examined transcriptome in wax gourd.

[Field resistance of Phytophthora melonis to metalaxyl in South China].

Objective: Phytophthora melonis is the casual agent of wax gourd and cucumber Phytophthora blight which becomes a constraint for sustainable production of the related crops. Metalaxyl is one of the principal fungicides for controlling the disease now. The objectives of the present study were: (1) to investigate the baseline sensitivity and field resistance of P.