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The Cucumber Genome

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Genetics and Genomics of Cucurbitaceae

Part of the book series: Plant Genetics and Genomics: Crops and Models ((PGG,volume 20))

Abstract

Cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. (2n = 2x = 14) is both an economically and biologically important vegetable crop which has been used as a model to study sex expression in plant for a long time. While the genetic and genomics resources in cucumber are limited as compared with field crops, recent advances in technology and instrumentation for sequencing of plant genomes are providing exciting opportunities to expedite cucumber genome research. Among major horticultural crops, cucumber was the first to have a publicly released draft genome. Cucumber has some advantages for genome research due to its relatively small genome size (~367 Mbp), low percentage of repetitive DNA and short life cycle. Since the release of the cucumber genome sequence, significant progress has been made in our understanding of the cucumber genome. In this chapter, I will review recent progress in cucumber draft genome assembly, genetic map development, whole genome features of characterized gene families, and the genome dynamics from evolutionary, domestication and population perspectives.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit, Horticulture Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

    Yiqun Weng

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  1. Yiqun Weng
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Correspondence to Yiqun Weng .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA

    Rebecca Grumet

  2. Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishay, Israel

    Nurit Katzir

  3. Agroalimentaries (IRTA), Institute de Recerca i Technologia Agroalimentaries (IRTA), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Garcia-Mas

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Weng, Y. (2016). The Cucumber Genome. In: Grumet, R., Katzir, N., Garcia-Mas, J. (eds) Genetics and Genomics of Cucurbitaceae. Plant Genetics and Genomics: Crops and Models, vol 20. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7397_2016_6

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