Heritability Estimates of L*a*b* Color Space Values in Winter Squash (Cucurbita spp.)

Carotenoids serve as protective antioxidants, and function in normal vision, bone growth, cell division and differentiation, and reproduction. Winter squash (Cucurbita spp.) is an excellent dietary source of carotenoids. The range of colors from yellow to red in Cucurbita species indicates that increasing carotenoid levels through plant breeding is possible. The objective of this research was to determine the heritability of flesh color in winter squash in both Cucurbita moschata Duchesne and Cucurbita pepo L. Segregating families representing F2, BC1P1 and BC1P2 populations were created in two families of C. pepo (‘Table Gold Acorn’ × PI 314806 and ‘Table King Bush’ × PI 314806) and one family of C. moschata (‘Butterbush’ × ‘Sucrine DuBerry’). Broad-sense heritabilities were calculated for the F2, BC1P1, and BC1P2 populations within each of the three families. Heritabilities ranged from 0.19 to 0.82 for L*, 0.28 to 0.97 for chroma, and 0.12 to 0.87 for hue across all families. Transgressive segregation for color space values L* was identified in the ‘Table King Bush’ × PI 314806 C. pepo population. Our results indicate that it is possible to breed for improved flesh color in Cucurbita, but the population size and number of test locations for evaluation need to be increased to provide better heritability estimates. Cucurbita species are grown throughout the world and their availability and low price makes them an important potential source of carotenoids for human nutrition and health for all ages.

Identity and pathogenicity of fungi associated with root, crown and vascular symptoms related to winter squash yield decline

Winter squash (Cucurbita maxima cv. ‘Golden Delicious’) produced in Oregon’s Willamette Valley for edible seed production has experienced significant yield losses due to a soilborne disease. The symptoms associated with this disease problem include root rot, crown rot and vascular discoloration in the stems leading to a severe late season wilt and plant collapse. Through field surveys, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, F. culmorum-like fungi, Plectosphaerella cucumerina, and Setophoma terrestris were identified to be associated with diseased tissues, and each produced symptoms of root rot, crown rot or stem discoloration in preliminary pathogenicity trials. In this study, 219 isolates of these species were characterized by molecular identity analyses using BLAST of the ITS and EF1α genomic regions and by pathogenicity testing in outdoor, large-container trials. Molecular identity analyses confirmed the identity of isolates at 99 to 100% similarity to reference isolates in the database. In pathogenicity experiments, F. solani produced the most severe symptoms, followed by F. culmorum-like fungi, F. oxysporum, P. cucumerina, and S. terrestris. Some treatments of mixed species inoculum produced symptoms above what was expected from individual species. In particular, the mixture of F. culmorum-like fungi, F. oxysporum, and P. cucumerina and the mixture of F. culmorum-like fungi, F. solani, and S. terrestris had equally severe symptom ratings than that of F. solani by itself. Results indicate that this soilborne disease is primarily caused by Fusarium solani, but interactions among the complex of F. solani, F. culmorum-like fungi, F. oxysporum, and P. cucumerina, can exacerbate disease severity.

Honey bee hives decrease wild bee abundance, species richness, and fruit count on farms regardless of wildflower strips

Pollinator refuges such as wildflower strips are planted on farms with the goals of mitigating wild pollinator declines and promoting crop pollination services. It is unclear, however, whether or how these goals are impacted by managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) hives on farms. We examined how wildflower strips and honey bee hives and/or their interaction influence wild bee communities and the fruit count of two pollinator-dependent crops across 21 farms in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. Although wild bee species richness increased with bloom density within wildflower strips, populations did not differ significantly between farms with and without them whereas fruit counts in both crops increased on farms with wildflower strips during one of 2 years. By contrast, wild bee abundance decreased by 48%, species richness by 20%, and strawberry fruit count by 18% across all farm with honey bee hives regardless of wildflower strip presence, and winter squash fruit count was consistently lower on farms with wildflower strips with hives as well. This work demonstrates that honey bee hives could detrimentally affect fruit count and wild bee populations on farms, and that benefits conferred by wildflower strips might not offset these negative impacts. Keeping honey bee hives on farms with wildflower strips could reduce conservation and pollination services.

Opportunities and Challenges in Doubled Haploids and Haploid Inducer-Mediated Genome-Editing Systems in Cucurbits

Doubled haploids have played a major role in cucurbit breeding for the past four decades. In situ parthenogenesis via irradiated pollen is the preferred technique to obtain haploid plantlets whose chromosomes are then doubled in Cucurbitaceae, such as melon, cucumber, pumpkin, squash and winter squash. In contrast to doubled haploid procedures in other species, in situ parthenogenesis in cucurbits presents many limiting factors which impede efficient production of haploids. In addition, it is very time-consuming and labor-intensive. However, the haploid inducer-mediated genome-editing system is a breakthrough technology for producing doubled haploids. Several reports have described using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in cucurbit species, and although its application has many bottlenecks, the targeted knock-out of the CENH3 gene will allow breeders to obtain haploid inducer lines that can be used to obtain parthenogenetic embryos. In this review, we discuss the progress made towards the development of doubled haploids and haploid inducer genotypes using CRISPR/Cas9 technologies in cucurbit species. The present review provides insights for the application of haploid inducer-mediated genome-editing system in cucurbit species

Genomic Prediction and Selection for Fruit Traits in Winter Squash

Improving fruit quality is an important but challenging breeding goal in winter squash. Squash breeding in general is resource-intensive, especially in terms of space, and the biology of squash makes it difficult to practice selection on both parents. These restrictions translate to smaller breeding populations and limited use of greenhouse generations, which in turn, limit genetic gain per breeding cycle and increases cycle length. Genomic selection is a promising technology for improving breeding efficiency; yet, few studies have explored its use in horticultural crops. We present results demonstrating the predictive ability of whole-genome models for fruit quality traits. Predictive abilities for quality traits were low to moderate, but sufficient for implementation. To test the use of genomic selection for improving fruit quality, we conducted three rounds of genomic recurrent selection in a butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) population. Selections were based on a fruit quality index derived from a multi-trait genomic selection model. Remnant seed from selected populations was used to assess realized gain from selection. Analysis revealed significant improvement in fruit quality index value and changes in correlated traits. This study is one of the first empirical studies to evaluate gain from a multi-trait genomic selection model in a resource-limited horticultural crop.