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<UL> <LI> Identify sources of and determine the genetic bases of insect (incl. silverleaf whitefly and leafminer) and disease (incl. downy mildew and fusarium wilt) resistances in lettuce, spinach and melon.<LI> Transfer resistant genes to breeding lines and cultivars. <LI> Develop marker-assisted selection procedures, and new cultivar types to fill niche market needs. <LI> Develop new genetic and genomic tools (e.g., genetic and physical maps, genetic marker systems) and apply them to genetically characterize extant and new vegetable breeding populations and genetic stocks.</UL> With the preceding tools, accelerate progress with identifying and characterizing genes governing key horticultural traits.
APPROACH: Collect, identify, characterize and evaluate wild and unadapted germplasm of lettuce, spinach, and melon. Devise testing techniques for germplasm evaluation. This includes, but is not limited to, virus (lettuce mosaic, lettuce infectious yellows, lettuce chlorosis, lettuce dieback, cucurbit leaf crumple), fungal (downy mildew, Fusarium wilt, sclerotinia) and bacterial (corky root rot) disease resistance, and insect (cucumber beetle, leafminer, silverleaf whitefly) resistances. Enhance germplasm; develop improved and elite populations via selection, hybridization and backcrossing. Determine inheritance and linkage relationships of phenotypic, biochemical and molecular markers. Devise techniques for evaluating insect-host interactions and selecting for resistance to insects in field and greenhouse tests.