Could farmers soon be growing and harvesting the perfect watermelon? It is no secret — delivering juicy, delicious “summer smiles” is no easy feat, and producing perfect watermelons from season to season is exceptionally challenging. According to a recent study published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, watermelon growers may soon get a huge assist from science.
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute recently constructed what they call a “super-pangenome” watermelon—combining the genome of the domesticated fruit and returning “lost” genes from its wild relatives. The researchers say the combination improves the fruit’s taste as well as its resilience during the growing process.
“The super-pangenome provides a valuable genetic toolkit for breeders and researchers to improve cultivated watermelon,” said Professor Zhangjun Fei, the study’s lead author. “By understanding the genetic makeup and evolutionary patterns of watermelons, we can develop varieties with enhanced yield, increased disease resistance, and improved adaptability. Our findings [...] also present significant implications for breeding and disease resistance.”
Genes from wild watermelon varieties that researchers were able to isolate within the super-pangenome control things like sweetness, flesh color, and rind thickness that were lost over centuries of domestication. One particularly exciting discovery was their ability to isolate the “tandem duplication of the sugar transporter gene ClTST2 that enhances sugar accumulation and fruit sweetness in cultivated watermelon.”
To create this super-pangenome watermelon, scientists referenced genes from 547 watermelon types spanning four species—cultivated watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), and its wild relatives: C. mucosospermus, C. amarus, and C. colocynthis.
“These beneficial genes could be reintroduced into modern cultivars to breed more resilient watermelon varieties,” Fei said. “Our findings not only provide insights into the evolutionary journey of watermelons but also present significant implications for breeding and disease resistance.”
The Boyce Thompson Institute study was supported by grants from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative and the U.S. National Science Foundation.
To read the full study, click the image below:
With 2023 projected to be a difficult year for agricultural producers, Chapter 12 filings may increase. One of the requirements to get a Chapter 12 reorganization plan approved is that be filed in “good faith.” In this blog post, RFD-TV Legal Contributor Roger A. McEowen explains exactly what farmers need to know about the process.
October 04, 2023 02:57 PM
·
The failure of a grain elevator can cause large problems for farmers and for the local community it serves. A farmer who knows their rights and where they stand if an elevator fails can be in a better position than those farmers who aren’t as well informed. That is the topic of today’s blog post by RFD-TV Legal Contributor Roger A. McEowen.
October 04, 2023 02:46 PM
·
Financial matters in farming can be frustratingly complicated, especially when it comes to the process of filing for bankruptcy. That is the topic tackled in today’s blog post by Farm-Legal Expert Roger A. McEowen—the definition of “insolvency” for purposes of the exclusion from income of CODI.
October 04, 2023 02:14 PM
·
The “farm products rule,” and the 1985 Farm Bill modification and its application – that is the topic of today’s blog post from Agri-Legal Expert Roger McEowen.
October 03, 2023 02:43 PM
·
To mark the end of National Chicken Month, we take a look at how the U.S. poultry industry is making a slow and steady recovery following the widespread outbreak of High-Path Avian Flu (HPAI) in 2022 that devastated commercial flocks across the country.
September 29, 2023 02:44 PM
·
In celebration of Hank’s 100th birthday, we’ve attempted to distill his mammoth legacy down to the ten most influential songs.
September 13, 2023 10:15 AM
·
The legendary Pat Boone is returning to RFD-TV to discuss his latest album, “Country Jubilee,” on Wednesday, Sept. 6! In honor of his visit, we went back through the illustrious singer, composer, actor, author and television host’s impressive catalog of hits to select just a few of our favorites!
September 06, 2023 12:03 PM
·
Chefs Chris Carter and James Peisker believe we have the power to make the world a better place with every meal. Through Porter Road butcher, they are now turning this belief into reality.
August 23, 2023 01:29 PM
·
It’s National Farmers Market Week! A time for local farmers and consumers across the U.S. to celebrate the growth, impact, and vital role of farmers markets in America’s food supply chain.
August 10, 2023 10:58 AM
·
