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Horticulturae
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Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon
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Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2026) | Viewed by 13452

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xuqiang Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of South Asian Fruits and Cucurbits, Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, China
2. Zhongyuan Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453400, China
Interests: watermelon and melon
Dr. Ruimin Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticultural Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Interests: watermelon and melon; germplasm resources; breeding; resistance; nutrition quality; cultivation quality; maker development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Huanhuan Niu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Interests: watermelon and melon; germplasm resources; breeding; plant architecture; plant height; flower development
Dr. Jingjing Chang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetable, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
Interests: watermelon and melon; germplasm resources; breeding; calcium signaling; fruit quality, stress resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Genetic improvement and germplasm resources for watermelon and melon are of great significance. The improvement aims to meet consumer demands by enhancing fruit quality and shelf life, helps to defend against disease and pest resistance, and promotes adaptation to climate change. However, there is limited genetic diversity in cultivated varieties due to a narrow gene pool and loss of wild germplasms. In addition, the complexity of trait genetics, like multiple genes controlling key traits and a lack of full functional genomic knowledge, poses challenges for breeding. Overall, continuous efforts are needed to overcome these issues for better development of these crops.

The topics of this Special Issue “Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon” encompass but are not limited to the following: 1. genetic mapping and molecular marker-assisted breeding; 2. genome sequencing and functional genomics; 3. genetic engineering and gene editing; 4. germplasm collection, evaluation, and conservation. We invite you to contribute your original research findings, comprehensive reviews, and innovative perspectives to this Special Issue.

Dr. Xuqiang Lu
Dr. Ruimin Zhang
Dr. Huanhuan Niu
Dr. Jingjing Chang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • watermelon and melon
  • genetics improvement
  • genetic mapping
  • marker development
  • genetic engineering
  • germplasm resources
  • breeding

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 9406 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of LBD Transcription Factors Revealed the Essential Role of ClLBD2 in Root Development in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
by Deling Zhao, Kaidi Wu, Junjie Liu, Mengmeng Yin, Xiaomeng Wang, Wenrui Gu, Gengrui Zhu, Ningning Gao, Ali Aslam, Qinghua Shi and Ruimin Zhang
Horticulturae 2026, 12(3), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030387 - 20 Mar 2026
Viewed by 319
Abstract
The Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain (LBD) gene family encodes plant-specific transcription factors that play pivotal roles in growth, development, and stress responses. However, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the LBD family in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has not been conducted [...] Read more.
The Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain (LBD) gene family encodes plant-specific transcription factors that play pivotal roles in growth, development, and stress responses. However, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the LBD family in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has not been conducted until now. In this study, we identified 39 ClLBD genes using the latest watermelon reference genome and systematically analyzed the function of ClLBD2 in root development. These ClLBDs are unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes except Chr4. Evolutionary analysis grouped the gene family members into six subgroups: Class I (a–e) and Class II. Physicochemical properties and gene structure analysis showed that the ClLBD protein members are tightly conserved. In the promoter regions of ClLBD genes, we identified abundant cis-acting regulatory elements related to abiotic stress and hormone responses. Through RNA-seq analysis from a cucurbit database, we found that several ClLBD genes showed high relative expression in roots, with ClLBD2 being the most highly expressed. Since its subfamily includes AtLBD25, a known root development-related gene, we hypothesized that ClLBD2 might be involved in root development. To validate this, ClLBD2-edited roots were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 system and Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. Compared to the wild type, the ClLBD2 edited roots exhibited significant reduction in taproot length and lateral root numbers, indicating that ClLBD2 may regulate root development. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the LBD gene family in watermelon, offering valuable insights for evolutionary and further functional studies of ClLBD genes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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17 pages, 6493 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of the CmnsLTP Gene Family in Melon (Cucumis melo L.) and Its Response to Copper Stress
by Kun Zhang, Zhiyi Yang, Ende Chen, Jicheng Shi, Tiantian Yang, Huilin Wang, Xuezheng Wang, Shi Liu, Feishi Luan, Zuyun Dai, Zhongzhou Yang, Xiaofei Wei, Zhongmin Yang, Chong Du and Chaonan Wang
Horticulturae 2026, 12(3), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030371 - 18 Mar 2026
Viewed by 284
Abstract
Non-specific Lipid Transfer Proteins (nsLTPs) constitute a ubiquitous family of plant proteins that play a critical role in mediating plant adaptation and tolerance to abiotic stress. While their functions have been extensively characterized in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice (Oryza [...] Read more.
Non-specific Lipid Transfer Proteins (nsLTPs) constitute a ubiquitous family of plant proteins that play a critical role in mediating plant adaptation and tolerance to abiotic stress. While their functions have been extensively characterized in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice (Oryza sativa L.), they remain largely unexplored in Cucurbitaceae crops. We identified 31 CmnsLTP genes in the melon (Cucumis melo L.) genome, these genes were unevenly distributed across 11 chromosomes and classified into 8 subfamilies. Members of the same subfamily have similar gene structures and conserved domains, with all family members having motif 1 and motif 3. The promoter region contains cis elements that respond to light, hormones (ABA and MeJA response elements), and abiotic stress, suggesting that this gene is involved in melon growth, development, and stress response. Previous studies have identified copper resistant candidate MELO3C031073.2 through forward genetics, which belongs to the nsLTP family and was named CmnsLTPY.9 in this study. The RT qPCR results showed that the CmnsLTPY.9 exhibited specific expression in different tissues, The expression levels of CmnsLTPY.9 in leaves ranged from 0.3 to 3.2. Under copper stress, the ‘M625’ (copper-sensitive) showed a 3.2-fold increase, indicating marked upregulation. Additionally, CmnsLTPY.9 was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, and the position remains unchanged after copper stress. This study provides the first systematic analysis of the CmnsLTP gene family in melon; these findings provide fundamental insights into their specific functions in plant development and stress response, as well as valuable genetic resources for future research on copper-tolerant molecular breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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12 pages, 5940 KB  
Article
A Plastidic TPI Mutation Causes Yellowing and Dwarfing in Melon
by Shijun Deng, Huiyi Li, Wenjing Dong, Peng Liu, Chao Gao, Jianlei Sun, Yumei Dong, Zigao Jiao, Chongqi Wang, Yang Li, Zekai Zhang, Fanfan Chen, Shuya Wang, Chaonan Wang, Xiaofeng Liu, Sen Chai and Shuai Li
Horticulturae 2026, 12(2), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12020220 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 897
Abstract
Leaf color mutants are key resources for uncovering the molecular mechanisms of chloroplast development and photosynthesis. Here, we identified a novel yellow-green melon mutant, ‘ygp2’, which displays yellow-green leaves and dwarfism throughout development. Genetic analysis indicated that the trait is controlled [...] Read more.
Leaf color mutants are key resources for uncovering the molecular mechanisms of chloroplast development and photosynthesis. Here, we identified a novel yellow-green melon mutant, ‘ygp2’, which displays yellow-green leaves and dwarfism throughout development. Genetic analysis indicated that the trait is controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene. Map-based cloning delimited the candidate region to an 805 kb interval on chromosome 11, within which only one missense mutation was identified in MELO13C_11G242690, encoding a triosephosphate isomerase (CmpdTPI). Phylogenetic analysis suggested its plastid localization, which was confirmed by transient expression of CmpdTPI-GFP in tobacco. The ‘ygp2’ mutant exhibited significantly reduced TPI enzyme activity and net photosynthetic rate. Transcriptome analysis revealed downregulation of genes related to light-harvesting complexes, cell division, and the cell cycle. These results demonstrate that the point mutation in CmpdTPI impairs chloroplast function and photosynthesis, leading to the yellow-green phenotype in melon. This study provides insight into the role of plastidial TPI in chlorophyll metabolism and chloroplast development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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13 pages, 4522 KB  
Article
CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockout of ClMLO5b Confers Powdery Mildew Resistance in Watermelon
by Lihuan Wang, Weide Sun, Jingyi Zhang, Zicheng Zhu, Shuang Pei, Yao Cheng and Peng Gao
Horticulturae 2025, 11(12), 1517; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121517 - 15 Dec 2025
Viewed by 686
Abstract
Powdery mildew poses a significant threat to watermelon production. The development of disease-resistant varieties through gene editing represents a major focus in current breeding research. In this study, we identified an MLO family gene in watermelon, denoted by ClMLO5b, which is phylogenetically [...] Read more.
Powdery mildew poses a significant threat to watermelon production. The development of disease-resistant varieties through gene editing represents a major focus in current breeding research. In this study, we identified an MLO family gene in watermelon, denoted by ClMLO5b, which is phylogenetically closely related to cucumber CsaMLO8 and melon CmMLO5. Homology modeling revealed high conservation of the three-dimensional protein structures among these orthologs. Expression analysis demonstrated that ClMLO5b is significantly up-regulated upon powdery mildew infection, and the protein localizes to the plasma membrane. To validate its function, we first employed an Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation system to rapidly verify the editing efficiency of two CRISPR/Cas9 targets designed for ClMLO5b. Subsequently, stable transgenic watermelon plants were generated via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, and a mutant line with homozygous substitutions at target site 2 was obtained. Disease resistance assays showed that, compared to wild-type plants, the Clmlo5b exhibited strongly inhibited mycelial growth, significantly reduced disease severity, and a substantial decrease in spore production after inoculation with powdery mildew. Our findings confirm that ClMLO5b is a key susceptibility gene in watermelon and provide both a promising genetic target and valuable breeding material for developing powdery mildew-resistant watermelon varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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22 pages, 8822 KB  
Article
A Comparative Analysis of High-Throughput and Conventional Phenotyping: Validation of Plantarray System and Dynamic Physiological Traits for Drought Tolerance in Watermelon
by Rui Cheng, Shiyu Zhao, Xiaolong Shi, Xin Liu, Yan Tang, Wenzhao Xu, Binghua Xu, Cong Jin, Yudong Sun and Xuezheng Wang
Horticulturae 2025, 11(11), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11111374 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1064
Abstract
Drought stress is a major constraint on watermelon production worldwide. Conventional phenotyping methods for drought tolerance are often low-throughput and fail to capture dynamic physiological responses. This study validated the high-throughput phenotyping platform (Plantarray 3.0) against conventional methods by dynamically evaluating drought tolerance [...] Read more.
Drought stress is a major constraint on watermelon production worldwide. Conventional phenotyping methods for drought tolerance are often low-throughput and fail to capture dynamic physiological responses. This study validated the high-throughput phenotyping platform (Plantarray 3.0) against conventional methods by dynamically evaluating drought tolerance across 30 genetically diverse watermelon accessions. The Plantarray system quantified key dynamic traits, including transpiration rate (TR), transpiration maintenance ratio (TMR), and transpiration recovery ratios (TRRs), revealing distinct drought-response strategies. Principal component analysis (PCA) of these dynamic traits explained 96.4% of the total variance (PC1: 75.5%, PC2: 20.9%), clearly differentiating genotypes. A highly significant correlation (R = 0.941, p < 0.001) was found between the comprehensive drought tolerance rankings derived from Plantarray and conventional phenotyping. We identified five genotypes as highly tolerant and four as highly sensitive. The elite drought-tolerant germplasm, notably the wild species PI 537300 (Citrullus colocynthis) and the cultivated variety G42 (Citrullus lanatus), exhibited superior physiological performance and recovery capacity. The results demonstrate that the Plantarray system not only efficiently screens for drought tolerance but also provides deep insights into dynamic resistance mechanisms, offering a powerful tool and valuable genetic resources for breeding climate-resilient watermelon cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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16 pages, 3414 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of GW5-LIKE Family Revealed the Function of ClGL1 Involved in Fruit and Seed Shape by Mediating Brassinosteroid Signaling in Watermelon
by Peng Tian, Lei Zhang, Jingjing Zhang, Bowen Liu, Wei Liu, Bing Li, Xiurui Gao, Jie Zhang, Yanrong Wu and Yong Xu
Horticulturae 2025, 11(11), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11111326 - 4 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 786
Abstract
The regulatory mechanism of brassinolide (BR) signaling in cucurbitaceae crops remains incompletely understood. Previous research demonstrated that the rice genes GW5 and GW5L modulate seed morphology via the BR pathway. However, the conservation of their orthologs in watermelon and their evolutionary trajectory are [...] Read more.
The regulatory mechanism of brassinolide (BR) signaling in cucurbitaceae crops remains incompletely understood. Previous research demonstrated that the rice genes GW5 and GW5L modulate seed morphology via the BR pathway. However, the conservation of their orthologs in watermelon and their evolutionary trajectory are yet to be elucidated. In this study utilizing the watermelon 97103v2 genome, we identified 15 GW5-LIKE genes. Through structure, phylogenetic tree construction, collinearity, promoter and spatiotemporal expression analysis, we determined that ClGL1 to ClGL3 are the most closely related to GW5 and GW5L. Subsequently, two crucial materials were acquired: the inbred line Jing L6M harboring the homozygous mutant Clgl1, and the near-isogenic line Changhong, a Jing L6M backcross containing the wild-type allele ClGL1. Apart from the disparity in fruit morphology, a clear difference in seed shape was observed between the two. Furthermore, exogenous BR treatment demonstrated that ClGL1 positively regulated the BR signal, aligning with the positive impact of GW5 and GW5L. In conclusion, ClGL1 modulates the morphology of watermelon fruit and seed by enhancing BR signaling, which provides a key gene and theoretical basis for BR signaling evolution and molecular design breeding in Cucurbitaceae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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19 pages, 4057 KB  
Article
Towards Introgression Between Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and Its Wild Relative, Bitter Apple (C. colocynthis)
by Lana W. Al-Qadumii, Monther T. Sadder, Bayan Alkharabsheh, Samih Y. Salem, Mohammad S. Salem and Karam Bani-Yaseen
Horticulturae 2025, 11(11), 1304; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11111304 - 31 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1359
Abstract
The genetic diversity of cultivated crops is limited, largely as a result of domestication bottlenecks and the selective pressures imposed during modern breeding. An introgression cross was initiated by mating bitter apple (Citrullus colocynthis), as a wild founder parent, with ‘Charleston [...] Read more.
The genetic diversity of cultivated crops is limited, largely as a result of domestication bottlenecks and the selective pressures imposed during modern breeding. An introgression cross was initiated by mating bitter apple (Citrullus colocynthis), as a wild founder parent, with ‘Charleston Grey’ watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) commercial cultivar, focused on identifying and utilizing trait-enhancing alleles from crop wild relative (CWR). Successful crosses resulted in diverse families, including F1 hybrids, F2 population, and backcross (BC) progenies. The study revealed substantial variation among the founder parents and their derived progeny in plant growth and major agronomic fruit traits, highlighting the value of this genetic diversity for breeding programs and demonstrating the potential of Citrullus introgression lines to enhance desired traits in cultivated watermelon. Morphological analysis demonstrated that F1 progeny resembled the maternal parent for the majority of investigated fruit traits. A considerable proportion of the introgression progeny in the F2 generation outperformed both parents in total soluble solids and lycopene content, suggesting that crop wild relatives hold strong breeding value through beneficial allelic recombination. BC1 siblings were closer to the wild watermelon, which is presumably maternally controlled through plastome and mitogenome in crosses between cultivated watermelon and wild bitter apple, which is expected to be retained in successive backcrosses. The study uncovers novel alleles of CWR that preserve extensive genetic variation that is essential for enhancing resilience traits in current breeding lines. These introgression-derived resources provide a critical platform for advancing genetic studies and enhancing crop resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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13 pages, 8290 KB  
Article
Construction and Phenotypic Characterization of a Recombination Inbred Line (RIL) Population from a Melo-agrestis Melon Hybrid
by He Liu, Jianquan Wang, Shoujun Cao, Yongjie Guo, Qinghua Shi and Xiaoyu Yang
Horticulturae 2025, 11(9), 1087; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11091087 - 9 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1056
Abstract
Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an economically important horticultural crop worldwide, while its production is continuously endangered by powdery mildew (PM), a fungal disease mainly caused by Podosphaera xanthii, due to the insufficiency of disease resistant germplasms. Here, a melon recombinant [...] Read more.
Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an economically important horticultural crop worldwide, while its production is continuously endangered by powdery mildew (PM), a fungal disease mainly caused by Podosphaera xanthii, due to the insufficiency of disease resistant germplasms. Here, a melon recombinant inbred line (RIL) population that consisted of 188 independent individuals was obtained through the crossing of ‘SN-1’ (C. melon L. ssp. melo) and ‘YJM’ (C. melon L. ssp. agrestis), two parents with contrasting PM resistance, followed by 7-round selfings. Comprehensive phenotypic investigation revealed substantial variations in key agronomic traits among these RILs, such as stem diameters of 3.7~12.6 mm and internode lengths of 1.6~12.2 cm at the anthesis stage, as well as peduncle lengths of 0.5~9.5 cm and soluble solid content of 1.6~17.4% at the maturation stage. Particularly, 95 RILs, of which 60 and 35 belonged to thin-peel and netted types, respectively, were identified to be highly resistant to P. xnathii infection, providing new germplasms for melon improvement. Altogether, the generation of this melo-agrestis RIL population, together with the phenotypic observations, lays a solid foundation for mechanistic investigation of the traits with economic importance and could contribute to future breeding programs of melon cultivars with PM resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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15 pages, 5873 KB  
Article
A Point Mutation of the Alpha-Tubulin Gene ClTUA Causes Dominant Dwarf Phenotype in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
by Ziwei Hu, Leichen Zhang, Jun Shi, Quansheng Ying, Huafeng Zhang, Xingping Zhang, Yun Deng and Yuhong Wang
Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060562 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 1075
Abstract
Vine length is a crucial plant architecture trait in watermelon, which determines its height. In this study, we identified a dominant dwarf watermelon mutant by treating G42 with Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). In order to clarify the causes of the dwarfism in mutants, genetic [...] Read more.
Vine length is a crucial plant architecture trait in watermelon, which determines its height. In this study, we identified a dominant dwarf watermelon mutant by treating G42 with Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). In order to clarify the causes of the dwarfism in mutants, genetic statistics, phenotypic observation, and cytological observation were carried out. Meanwhile, individual resequencing combined with molecular markers was used to map the candidate gene. Our results demonstrated that the dwarf mutant exhibited incomplete dominance. The dwarf plants showed a decrease in the number of internodal cells, shortened internodes, and reduced vine length. Gene mapping indicated that the target gene responsible for this mutation was ClTUA, which encodes α-tubulin. A point mutation in the dwarf plants was identified, specifically, a change from C to T at the 1851st base pair. Further experiments, including transcriptome analysis and Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), revealed that this gene mutation affected auxin synthesis, leading to the dwarfing of the plants. This study provides new germplasm resources and a theoretical foundation for plant architecture breeding in watermelon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 2064 KB  
Review
Advances in Functional Genomics for Watermelon and Melon Breeding: Current Progress and Future Perspectives
by Huanhuan Niu, Junyi Tan, Wenkai Yan, Dongming Liu and Luming Yang
Horticulturae 2025, 11(9), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11091100 - 11 Sep 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2920
Abstract
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo) are globally important cucurbit crops, with China being the largest producer and consumer. Traditional breeding methods face difficulties in significantly improving yield and quality. Smart breeding, which combines genomics, gene editing, and [...] Read more.
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo) are globally important cucurbit crops, with China being the largest producer and consumer. Traditional breeding methods face difficulties in significantly improving yield and quality. Smart breeding, which combines genomics, gene editing, and artificial intelligence (AI), holds great promise but fundamentally depends on understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling important agronomic traits. This review summarizes the progress made over recent decades in discovering and understanding the functions of genes that control essential traits in watermelon and melon, focusing on plant architecture, fruit quality, and disease resistance. However, major challenges remain: relatively few genes have been fully validated, the complex gene networks are not fully unraveled, and technical hurdles like low genetic transformation efficiency and difficulties in large-scale trait phenotyping limit progress. To overcome these and enable the development of superior new varieties, future research priorities should focus on the following: (1) systematic discovery of genes using comprehensive genome collections (pan-genomes) and multi-level data analysis (multi-omics); (2) deepening the study of gene functions and interactions using advanced gene editing and epigenetics; (3) faster integration of molecular knowledge into smart breeding systems; (4) solving the problems of genetic transformation and enabling efficient large-scale trait and genetic data collection (high-throughput phenotyping and genotyping). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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19 pages, 636 KB  
Review
Advances in Cold Stress Response Mechanisms of Cucurbits
by Lili Li, Juan Hou, Jianbin Hu and Wenwen Mao
Horticulturae 2025, 11(9), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11091032 - 1 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1621
Abstract
Cold stress can inhibit the growth of cucurbits, disrupt pollination and fertilization, induce fruit deformities, reduce plant resistance, and increase susceptibility to diseases, ultimately resulting in yield reduction, quality deterioration, or even complete crop failure. This review focuses on the main cucurbits, such [...] Read more.
Cold stress can inhibit the growth of cucurbits, disrupt pollination and fertilization, induce fruit deformities, reduce plant resistance, and increase susceptibility to diseases, ultimately resulting in yield reduction, quality deterioration, or even complete crop failure. This review focuses on the main cucurbits, such as melon, cucumber, and watermelon, systematically expounding the roles of plant hormones, signaling molecules, soluble sugars, key regulatory factors, molecular mechanisms, and network interactions in their response to cold stress. Furthermore, it highlights future research directions and application potential. By analyzing existing challenges and prospective advancements in this field, the review aims to provide a comprehensive reference for facilitating genetic improvement in cold tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Genetics Improvement of Watermelon and Melon)
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