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The mission of the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) is research and development to realize the potential of vegetables for healthier lives and more resilient livelihoods. WorldVeg operates across Asia and Africa, and its breeding portfolio comprises global as well as traditional vegetables. Cucurbit crops make an important contribution to global f...
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... In 2019, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization, the global production of Cucurbita species was approximately 22.9 × 10 6 MT. 31 Based on research by the World Vegetable Centre, Cucurbit crops play an important role in global food security and nutrition and have economic significance for small farmers in Asia, who represent 83% of the global production of pumpkin. 32 Pumpkin flesh is commonly consumed as food and feedstuff and used for ornamental purposes, while the peel is often discarded. 33 In fact, pumpkin peel contains potassium in quite a high amount, which makes it a promising potential heterogeneous catalyst candidate. ...
A base catalyst has been prepared from pumpkin peel ash for the synthesis of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from palm oil using the ultrasonication method. This catalyst was prepared by burning the pumpkin peel in the open air and calcinating at 800 °C for 2.5 h. Preparation of FAME was performed at ambient temperature, using proportions of palm oil:methanol of 1:6 mol, and catalyst mass variations of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% (w/w). The obtained catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray analysis. The characterization results showed the presence of potassium‐based oxides and carbonates which could be used as a base for the transesterification catalysis. The resulting FAME was characterized using ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance and the conversion value was calculated to reach 96.94% at a 5% catalyst mass variation. Additionally, the transesterifications were evaluated using green metrics to determine their environmental impact using Environmental Assessment Tool for Organic Synthesis software and an Andraos spreadsheet. The results confirmed that the study presented here displays noteworthy advancements in sustainability and efficiency. The catalyst holds the benefit of being a waste material, relatively cheap, easy to prepare, efficient and environmentally benign. Thus, it is a promising candidate as a ‘green catalyst’ in large‐scale biodiesel production.
... This low genetic diversity renders the crop vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses and severely limits long-term yield improvements. Recognizing this critical issue, Dhillon et al. (2020) at the WorldVeg centre have undertaken significant efforts to bridge this gap by introducing new variability into bitter gourd germplasm. These efforts have had a tangible impact, with this enhanced germplasm currently being utilized by 35-40 private companies. ...
Hybrid breeding in bitter gourd offers significant potential for yield enhancement but relies heavily on
understanding and effectively utilizing genetic diversity. Bitter gourd, a highly cross-pollinated crop with a
wide range of genetic variability, envisages ample scope for improvement through heterosis breeding. This
study reviewed research on the genetic diversity of bitter gourd germplasm and highlighted strategies for
effective hybrid breeding. Our findings revealed that Bitter Gourd populations exhibit substantial genetic
diversity, influenced by geographic origin and fruit characteristics. However, studies with limited geographic
scope may not always reflect clear geographical clustering patterns. Furthermore, due to the high demand
for preferred shape and size by customers, narrowing of the genetic base in commercial breeding programs
has been observed. To optimize breeding efficiency and address this challenge, we propose a strategy
modelled after successful programs in crops such as rice and maize, focusing on the formation of an
extensive heterotic pool. This involves validating the heterosis of bitter gourd germplasm developed by the
World Veg program to identify the most promising heterotic pools. Furthermore, each company can utilize
this framework to assign their unique sets of lines from their breeding programs into defined pools using the
HSGCA (combination of both specific and general combining ability effects) method of pooling. Such
collaboration would enable private companies to leverage identified heterotic groups and high general
combining ability (GCA) line, facilitating the development of a structured and efficient breeding program
that sustainably delivers high-yielding hybrids with improved fruit quality. The inclusion of Gynoecious
lines from diverse sources in these heterotic pool studies holds significant potential for further enhancing
yield potential and overall breeding efficiency.
... When it comes to variety development, breeding and seed research are largely managed by universities and research institutes for most crops. Precompetitive research is supported in many countries through public-private partnerships (Beumer and Stemerding, 2021;Dhillon et al., 2020). The private sector is, however, dominant in vegetable breeding as the public sector tends to focus on major food crops (ter Steeg et al., 2022;Schreinemachers et al., 2017). ...
... Some traits like fruit color, fruit size and presence and absence of tubercules are mostly governing its marketability with regional preferences. For example, green-fruited have more demand in southern China (Light} and Northern India (dark green to glossy with prominent tubercles) while white color fruits are most preferred in central China and Southern India (Dhillon et al., 2020). Days to first harvest and fruits/plant are largely controlled by additive and additive x additive components (Sirohi and Choudhury, 1979). ...
... This line could be use as a potential source for introgression of ToLCNDV resistance in available commercial varieties. Multi-locational trails are undergoing of recently developed two bitter gourd hybrids (NBL 368, NBTH 19156) resistant to ToLCNDV using this resistance source, by Noble Seeds Private Limited India (Bangalore, India) (Dhillon et al., 2020). Several resistance hybrids have released in China for commercial cultivation viz. ...
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is known tropical cucurbitaceous vegetable for its nutritional, medicinal and curative properties. The immature fruit is valued for its bitter taste and richness in calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper, potassium and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. The genus Momordica consist of 60 species worldwide and out of them 7 species (Momordica charantia, M. balsamina, M. dioica, M. cochinchinensis, M. tuberosa, M. subangulata M. macrophylla) are found in Indian sub-continent which expressed large variability with respect to fruit shape, size, coulour due to varied edaphic and climatic conditions. Breeding efforts for emergence of early pistillate flower at earlier nodes, high female to male sex ratio, earliness, fruit color, firm fruit with narrow seed cavity, less seed development, desirable fruit shape, size, non-ridge fruits, thick flesh, thick flesh, resistant to leaf mosaic and fruit fly and suitability for export, canning and dehydration. Considering the above traits, several varieties and hybrids in different segments has been developed by public and private seed companies. Due to monoecism and expression of gynoecism has played a vital role in development of high yielding varieties, hybrids and seed production. The major limitations of molecular markers are limited in number, and their association with few economically important traits in bitter gourd. Generation of high-density genetic maps is the best way to identify the closely associated or functional markers for marker assisted selection and map-based cloning for fruit-related traits, gynoecium sex and yield. Crop wild relative can play an important role as a source of stress tolerance. The availability of whole genome information, selection of biotic and abiotic stress tolerant genes along with heterosis related alleles can be easily accomplished in breeding programmes.
... Recent advances in all these technologies can definitely support the development of more sustainable agriculture, starting from sustainable plant breeding and production. Dhillon et al. [12] present a perspective on the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), an organisation that operates across Asia and Africa, where cucurbit crops make an important contribution to global food and nutrition security and are economically important to smallholder farmers. Concretely, the authors assess the promoted public-private partnership and consortium developed to share and use the new breeding lines derived from local unexploited landraces in order to increase genetic variability into elite cucurbit hybrid cultivars with enhanced yield and resistance to major diseases. ...
Recent progress in plant genomic technologies has amounted to a revolution, making a huge set of molecular tools available for use in plant breeding [...]
... Gourds are highly adaptive in both tropical and subtropical regions. 83% of the production area was covered by Asia, 3% by Africa, and 2% by Central America [1]. In 2022, the bitter gourd was cultivated on about 0.109 M ha with a productivity of 12 t/ha and ribbed gourd was cultivated on about 0.01 M ha with average production and productivity of 0.12 M MT and 12.5 T, respectively (India Stat 2022). ...
The present study focused on the evaluation of priming with water and various botanical leaf extract and followed by humid invigoration as a means to improve seed germination and seedling vigour of ribbed gourd (COH 1) and bitter gourd (CO 1). The seeds of these gourds were primed with water and various leaf extracts at 2% concentration viz., Pongam (Pongamia pinnata L.), Neem (Azadira chtaindica), Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii), Notchi (Vitex negundo), Coconut (Cocos nucifera), Hena (Lawsonia inermis) and Guava (Psidium guajava). Unprimed seeds taken as a control. Hydro and leaf extract priming with humid invigoration process significantly influence the germination and seedling vigour of both crops viz., ribbed gourd (COH 1) and bitter gourd (CO 1). The study revealed that highest seed and seedling quality characters like germination percentage, speed of germination, seedling length, dry matter production, vigour index I and vigour index II were recorded in hydro primed with humid invigoration. Among the leaf extracts moringa shows better seedling growth of above parameters. Minimum value of this parameter was recorded in henna leaf extract priming with humid invigoration in both ribbed gourd (COH 1) and bitter gourd gourd (CO 1).
... Nine species of Luffa have been identified including: Luffa acutangula, L. cylindrica, L. aegyptiaca, L. operculata, L. quinquefida, L. saccata, L. graveolens, L. astorii and L. echinata (Prakash et al., 2013;Ani et al., 2020). Two cultivated species, L. acutangula and L. aegyptiaca are widely grown in Asia (Dhillon et al., 2020). Luffa fruit is commonly consumed as a summer vegetable in Asia and Africa (Karmakar et al., 2019). ...
... Luffa fruit is commonly consumed as a summer vegetable in Asia and Africa (Karmakar et al., 2019). Luffa is a common vegetable in the diets of low-income consumers, containing high content of vitamins, dietary minerals, antioxidant and bioactive phenolic compounds (Dhillon et al., 2020). In most luffa cultivation areas, its production is hampered by Fusarium wilt disease, particularly during the warm seasons. ...
Fusarium wilt is a serious disease of cucurbit crops including cultivated Luffa species (Luffa aegyptiaca, Luffa acutangula) causing considerable amount of reduction in yield and quality. Luffa is starting to be used as rootstocks for major commercial cucurbit crops, but little is known of its resistance against soilborne diseases. Here, 63 Luffa accessions from the World Vegetable Center genebank were evaluated for resistance to an aggressive isolate of Fusarium oxysporum f. FoCu-1 (Fsp-66). According to visual screening based on disease severity rating, 14 accessions exhibited a high level of resistance against Fsp-66. These accessions were further evaluated for resistance against Fsp-66 and two more isolates FoCu-1 (isolated from infected cucumber plants) and FoM-6 (isolated from infected bitter gourd plants). Of the 14 accessions, 11 were confirmed resistant against isolate Fsp-66. In addition, 13 accessions showed high resistance against isolates FoCu-1 and FoM-6. This is the first report of Fusarium wilt resistance in Luffa and these sources will be valuable for the development of Luffa rootstocks/cultivars resistant to soil-borne pathogen to manage this serious disease.
... In addition to the heterosis effect, the production of hybrid seeds allows the protection of the plant breeder's rights. In this regard, aligned lineage material becomes particularly valuable in the breeding process [2,3]. The use of essary data on chromosome sets for most plants are now readily available and collected in public resources such as the Chromosome Counts Database (CCDB; http://ccdb.tau.ac.il/ (accessed on 27 May 2022)) [29] and the Index to Plant Chromosome Numbers (IPCN, http://legacy.tropicos.org/Project/IPCN) ...
An important stage in doubled haploid (DH) production is to evaluate and to differentiate the ploidy level of regenerant plants at least two–three times during the technology. Therefore, rapid and reliable methods are necessary for particular species taken into the technology. In this study, Cucurbita pepo regenerants obtained through unpollinated ovule culture in vitro were evaluated including three different methods: direct chromosome counting in apical meristems, flow cytometry of the cell nucleus, and estimation of morphological parameters of the abaxial epidermis. Methods were optimized for each of three evaluations, and main criteria were determined for ploidy level differentiation. As a result, four ploidy levels, namely, 2n, 3n, 4n, and 8n, were defined among regenerant plants adapted to ex vitro conditions, while true haploids were only found among plants that remained in the in vitro culture. In total, 32.35%, 26.47%, 33.82%, 4.41%, and 2.94% of regenerant plants of courgette and patisson were diploid, triploid, tetraploid, octaploid, and aneuploid, respectively. According to results of flow cytometry of the cell nucleus, two cytotypes in diploid samples with DNA content of 2C = 1.07 ± 0.03 pg for courgette belonging to subsp. pepo and 2C = 0.95 ± 0.03 pg for patisson samples belonging to subsp. ovifera were revealed. The images of metaphase chromosomes of haploid, triploid, and tetraploid C. pepo specimens obtained using the propion–lacmoid chromosome staining method were presented for the first time. Parameters of abaxial epidermis in diploid samples of courgette and patisson grown in open-field and greenhouse conditions were described and compared. It was shown that the most robust parameter not depending on external factors was the number of chloroplasts in stomatal guard cells, which contained 9.41 to 11.31, 14.84 to 16.3, and up to 17.58 chloroplasts in diploid, triploid, and tetraploid samples, respectively. The application of several methods for estimation enables avoiding the misidentification of ploidy levels in adapted regenerant plants produced with the use of DH technology.
... Open-pollinated cultivars of cucurbits have been developed through selection from landraces. Many hybrids are developed by the private sector breeders that have gained popularity among the grower (Dhillon et al., 2020). ...
... Economically important species of the family Cucurbitaceae are cucumber (Cucumis sativus), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), melon (Cucumis melo L.), sponge gourd (Luffa acutangula), summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), bitter gourd (Momordica charan-tia) and serpent gourd (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus), (Bisognin, 2002;Dhillon et al., 2020). In Pakistan, cucurbits are grown throughout the country due to their nutritive as well as medicinal importance (Adams et al., 2011;Ali et al., 2014;Ró _ zyło et al., 2014;Al-Jahani and Cheikhousman, 2017;Ashfaq, et al., 2021a). ...
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), a well-known Tobamovirus, infects cucurbits across the globe. To determine its current status, molecular characterization, genetic recombination, gene flow and selection pressure, 10 districts from Punjab province of Pakistan were surveyed and a total of 2561 cucurbits samples were collected during 2019–2020. These samples were subjected to virus-specific double antibody sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) for the detection of CGMMV. The results revealed that viral disease was prevalent in all surveyed districts of Punjab with an overall 25.69% disease incidence. ELISA positive samples were further confirmed through RT-PCR and sequencing of coat protein (CP) cistron. Sequence analysis showed that the present studied CGMMV isolates have 96–99.5% nucleotide and 94.40–99.50% amino acid identities with those already available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis also revealed that understudied isolates were closely related with South Korean (AB369274) and Japanese (V01551) isolates and clustered in a separate clad. Sequence polymorphisms were observed in 663 bp of sequence within 31 CGMMV isolates covering complete CP gene. Total number of sites were 662, of which 610 and 52 sites were monomorphic and polymorphic (segregating), respectively. Of these polymorphic, 24 were singleton variable and 28 were parsimony informative. Overall nucleotide diversity (π) in all the understudied 31 isolates was 0.00010 while a total of 1 InDel event was observed and InDel Diversity (k) was 0.065. Haplotype diversity analysis revealed that there was a total 29 haplotypes with haplotype diversity (Hd) of 0.993458 in all the 31 isolates which provide evidence of less diversity among Pakistani isolates. The statistical analysis revealed the values 2.568, 5.31304 and 4.86698 of Tajima's D, Fu, & Li’s F* and D*, respectively, which witnessed the population of CGMMV was under balanced selection pressure.
