Update of Cucurbit Gene List and Nomenclature Rules

Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 5:62-66 (article 29) 1982

In order to prevent confusion when genes of one species are transferred to another species, it is recommended that the same symbol not be used for different genes of compatible species. Interspecific crosses are being increasingly used, particularly in squash breeding programs. Therefore, the Cucurbit Gene List Committee proposes that the following rule be adopted to supplement previously published (HortScience 11:554-568, 1976) rules for nomenclature of cucurbit genes.

The same symbol shall not be used for nonallelic genes of different Cucurbita species. Allelic genes of compatible species are designated with the same symbol for the locus.

Lists of known genes for the Cucurbitaceae have been published in HortScience 11:554-568, 1976, and Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Report 2:49-53, 1979. Since then, new genes have been reported in the literature, and some omissions of the previous lists have come to our attention.

Table 1. List of Genes

Gene symbol

Character

Reference

Preferred

Synonym

Citrullus lanatus

Ar2* Anthracnose race 2 resistance. 20
Fo* Fusarium oxysporum race 1 resistance; dominant to susceptibility. 11

Cucumis anguria

Cgm Cucumber green mottle resistance 13

Cucumis melo

Fn Flaccida necrosis. Resistance to muskmelon yellow stunt virus. 14,16
nsv necrotic spot virus resistance. 2
Pa Pale green foliage. 9
v-2 virescent-2 5
Vat Virus aphid transmission resistance. 14
Wmv Watermelon mosaic virus-1 resistance. 21

Cucumis sativus

ap apetalous male sterile. 8
bu bush; shortened internodes. 15
dvl* dl divided leaf. 12
lh long hypocotyl. 17
mp multi-pistillate; several pistillate flowers per node, recessive to single pistillate flower per node 10
ro rosette; short internodes, muskmelon-like leaves 19

Cucurbita species

G* (a,m) Gynoecious sex expression in C. foetidissima. 3, 7
Gb* Green band on inner side of base of petal; dominant to no band in C. pepo.
i intensifier of the cr gene for cream flowers; derived from C. okeechobeensis.
I-T Inhibitor of the T gene for trifluralin resistance in C. moschata. 1
lo 1 lobed leaves of C. maxima. 6
T Trifluralin resistance in C. moschata; dominant to susceptibility to herbicide; modified by I-T. 1
Ygp* Yellow green placenta; dominant to yellow placental color in C. pepo. 4

* Proposed new gene symbol.

Literature Cited

  1. Adeoye, A.A. amd D.P. Coyne. 1981. Inheritance of resistance to trifluralin toxicity in Cucurbita moschata Poir. HortScience 16:774-775.
  2. Coudriet, D.L., A.N. Kishaba, and G.W. Bohn. 1981. Inheritance of resistance to muskmelon necrotic spot virus in a melon aphid-resistant breeding line of muskmelon. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:709-791.
  3. Dossey, B.F., W.P. Bemis, and J.C. Scheerens, 1981.Genetic control of gynoecy in the buffalo gourd. Joiur. Heredity 72:355-356.
  4. Dutta, L.P. and P. Nath. 1972. Inheritance of flower and fruit characters in squash, Cucurbita pepo L. Proc. Int. Symp. Sub-Tropical and Tropical Hort. 1:69-74.
  5. Dyutin, K.E. 1979. (Inheritance of yellow-green coloration of the young leaves in melon). Tsitologia i Genetika 13:407-408. (In Russian).
  6. Dyutin, K.E. 1980. (Spontaneous mutant of Cucurbita maxima Duch. Squash with lobed leaves). Genetika 16:176-178. (In Russian).
  7. Fulks, B.K., J.C. Scheerens, and W.P. Bemis. 1979. Sex expression in Cucurbita foetidissima HBK. Cucurbit genetics Coop Rpt. 2:36.
  8. Grimble, P.E. 1980. An apetalous male-sterile mutant in cucumber. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 3:9.
  9. McCreight, J.D. and G.W. Bohn. 1979. Descriptions, genetics, and independent assortment of red stem and pale in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 104-721-723.
  10. Nandgaonker, A.K. and L.R. Baker. 1981. Inheritance of multi-pistillate flowering habit in gynoecious pickling cucumber. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:755-757.
  11. Netzer, D. and C. Weintall. 1980. Inheritance of resistance to race 1 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum. Plant Disease 64:853-854.
  12. den Nijs, A.P.M. 1980. “Divided leaf”, a recessive seedling marker in cucumber. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 3:24.
  13. den Nijs, A.P.M. 1982. Inheritance of resistance to cucumber green mottle virus (CGMV) in Cucumis anguria L. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 5:56-57.
  14. Pitrat, M., H. Lecoq and G. Risser. 1982. Vat and Fn, two linked genes in muskmelon. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 5:29-30.
  15. Pyzhenkov, V.I. and G.A. Kosareva. 1981. A spontaneous mutant of the dwarf type. Bull. Appl. Bot., Genetics & Plant Breeding 69 (2):15-21.
  16. Risser, G., M. Pitrat, H. Lecoq, and J. Rode. 1981/ Sensibilite varietale du melon (Cucumis melo L.) au virus du rabougrissement jaune du melon (MYSV) et a sa transmission par Aphis gossypii. Heredite de la reaction de fletrissement. Agronomie 1:835-838. (In French).
  17. Robinson, R.W. and J.W. Shail. 1981. A cucumber mutant with increased hypocotyl and internode length. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 4:19-20.
  18. Row, N.E. and W.P. Bemis. 1977. Corolla color in Cucurbita. Hour. Hered. 68-193-194.
  19. de Ruiter, A.C., B.J. van der Knap, and R.W. Robinson. 1980. Rosette, a spontaneous cucumber mutant arising from cucumber-muskmelon mentor pollination. Cucurbit Genetics Coop. Rpt. 3:4.
  20. Suvanprakorn, K. and J.D. Norton. 1980. Inheritance of resistance to anthracnose race 2 in watermelon. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 105:862-865.
  21. Webb, R.E. 1979. Inheritance of resistance to watermelon mosaic virus in Cucumis melo L. HortScience 14:265-266.

In order to prevent the same symbol for two different genes, researchers are urged to consult this and the two previous gene lists before publishing a symbol for a new gene. Any questions concerning correct gene nomenclature may be directed to the gene list committee:

Cucurbit Gene List Committee

Cucumber

T. C. Wehner
Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27650

Muskmelon

J. D. McCreight
U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 5098, Salinas, CA 93915

Watermelon

W. R. Henderson
Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27650

Cucurbita spp.

C. A. John
A. L. Castle, Inc., 24401 SW 197th Avenue, Homestead, FL 33031

Other Genera

R. W. Robinson
Department of Seed and Vegetable Sciences, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY 14456