Multiple Stressors in Vegetable Production: Insights for Trait-Based Crop Improvement in Cucurbits

Abstract

Vegetable production is a key determinant of contribution from the agricultural sector toward national Gross Domestic Product in a country like India, the second largest producer of fresh vegetables in the world. This calls for a careful scrutiny of the threats to vegetable farming in the event of climate extremes, environmental degradation and incidence of plant pests/diseases. Cucurbits are a vast group of vegetables grown almost throughout the world, which contribute to the daily diet on a global scale. Increasing food supply to cater to the ever-increasing world population, calls for intensive, off-season and year-round cultivation of cucurbits. Current situation predisposes these crops to a multitude of stressors, often simultaneously, under field conditions. This scenario warrants a systematic understanding of the different stress specific traits/mechanisms/pathways and their crosstalk that have been examined in cucurbits and identification of gaps and formulation of perspectives on prospective research directions. The careful dissection of plant responses under specific production environments will help in trait identification for genotype selection, germplasm screens to identify superior donors or for direct genetic manipulation by modern tools for crop improvement. Cucurbits exhibit a wide range of acclimatory responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses, among which a few like morphological characters like waxiness of cuticle; primary and secondary metabolic adjustments; membrane thermostability, osmoregulation and, protein and reactive oxygen species homeostasis and turnover contributing to cellular tolerance, appear to be common and involved in cross talk under combinatorial stress exposures. This is assumed to have profound influence in triggering system level acclimation responses that safeguard growth and metabolism. The possible strategies attempted such as grafting initiatives, molecular breeding, novel genetic manipulation avenues like gene editing and ameliorative stress mitigation approaches, have paved way to unravel the prospects for combined stress tolerance. The advent of next generation sequencing technologies and big data management of the omics output generated have added to the mettle of such emanated concepts and ideas. In this review, we attempt to compile the progress made in deciphering the biotic and abiotic stress responses of cucurbits and their associated traits, both individually and in combination.

Tolerance of plant virus disease: Its genetic, physiological, and epidemiological significance

“…Drought stress was found to increase the expression of resistance genes to R. padi in Hordeum vulgare and Hordeum spontaneum , with negative consequences for aphid fitness, thus affecting drought tolerance and aphid resistance (Leybourne et al, 2022). Strategies to combine tolerance to multiple abiotic and biotic stressors in the Cucurbitacaea by trait identification, germplasm screening for donor selection in conventional breeding, and direct genetic manipulation, have been proposed (Parvathi et al, 2022). Elevated levels of salicylic, jasmonic, and absisic acids in transgenic alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ) were associated with upregulated plant defence and abiotic stress response genes enhanced tolerance to fungal infection by Colletotrichum trifolii and drought (Gallego‐Giraldo et al, 2011).…”

Widening Genetic Diversity Using Embryo Rescue in Cucurbit Crops: A Review

“…The Cucurbitaceae, commonly known as the pumpkin family, stands as a cornerstone in the realm of vegetables and fruits, boasting a rich diversity critical for human diets worldwide [1]. Comprising an impressive array of 130 genera and 965 species [2], it holds the distinction of being the most varied member of the vegetable plant family cultivated globally, thriving across a spectrum of environmental conditions [3]. These versatile plants are revered for their multifaceted contributions, offering not only essential nourishment but also serving as prized ornamental additions to landscapes [4,5].…”

Optimal transfer learning based nutrient deficiency classification model in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula)

“…The high fiber in the Luffa acutangula will help maintain proper excretory system functioning and healthy digestion. It is also helpful in reducing body heat and makes the skin brighter, a natural detoxifier, thereby aiding in blood purification and strengthening the immune system 5 . The entire plant can be utilized for the treatment of sores and ulcers.…”