Enhancing biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in cucurbitaceae through plant breeding

Abstract

Cucurbitaceae vegetables, as well as economically important ones like melons, cucumbers, and squashes, are confronted with a growing list of biotic stresses, including damaging pests and diseases, combined with abiotic stresses like water scarcity, salt stress, and heat stress. These biotic and abiotic stresses considerably hamper crop production and quality as well as the world's food security and stability of the food system. Thus, stress-resistant varieties of cucurbits developed by guided breeding is of extreme importance. The present review gives an overview of the major breeding techniques currently employed for the improvement of tolerance against stress in these priceless crops. We talk about conventional breeding practices, which have been the backbone of crop improvement for quite a long time. Further, we review the application of modern molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) and its effectiveness in the detection and introgression of desirable resistance genes. We also address the capacity of biotechnology and genetic engineering techniques to introduce new mechanisms of resistance and widen the genetic resource base. Lastly, we emphasize the combinatorial benefit of integrating these divergent breeding strategies and suggest that the employment of a combinatorial strategy offers the most promise for accelerating the development of durable cucurbit lines capable of ensuring consistent and sustainable yields in the face of mounting environmental and biotic pressures.