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The Watermelon 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

Watermelon grows throughout the world, and is one of the most important cucurbit crops. The draft genome sequence of the East-Asia watermelon cultivar ‘97103’ was published in 2013. The genome sequence allowed the prediction of 23,440 protein coding genes. Comparative genomics analysis showed that the 11 watermelon chromosomes are derived from a seven-chromosome paleohexaploid eudicot ancestor. Twenty watermelon accessions representing three different C. lanatus subspecies were re-sequenced, which produced numerous haplotypes and revealed the extent of genetic diversity and population structure of watermelon germplasm. Preferentially selected genomic regions were identified and several disease resistance genes were found to be lost during domestication. Integrative genomic and transcriptomic analyses identified genes critical to valuable fruit quality traits. The draft watermelon genome sequence represents an important resource for plant research and crop genetic improvement, and also support further evolutionary and comparative genomics studies of the Cucurbitaceae.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Beijing, 100097, China

    Xu Yong & Shaogui Guo

Authors
  1. Xu Yong
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  2. Shaogui Guo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xu Yong .

Editor information

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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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Yong, X., Guo, S. (2016). The Watermelon 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_22

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