Phenetic characterization of Citrullus spp. (Cucurbitaceae) and differentiation of egusi-type (C. mucosospermus)

• Published in: Genetic resources and crop evolution Vol. 62; no. 8; pp. 1159 - 1179
• Main Authors: Achigan-Dako, Enoch G., Avohou, Edgar S., Linsoussi, Come, Ahanchede, Adam, Vodouhe, Raymond S., Blattner, Frank R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.12.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Breeding; Citrullus; Crops; Differentiation; Economic importance; Genetic diversity; Interspecific; Life Sciences; Morphology; Phenotypes; Phenotypic variations; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Research Article; Breeding prospects; spp; Morphological markers; Egusi; Taxonomy
• ISSN: 0925-9864; 1573-5109
• DOI: 10.1007/s10722-015-0220-z

Breeding of Citrullus spp. for various benefits has continuously raised interest particularly for economically important crops. However, the interspecific variations within the genus have remained obscure in many regards and the multitude of names for taxa and subtaxa eludes Citrullus breeders. In the absence of clear taxonomic differentiation, molecular analysis of phenotypes did not help understand the complexity of this genus until recently. In this study we carried out a phenetic characterization of a world collection of 213 accessions using 22 agro-morphological descriptors in field trials conducted in two locations and during two consecutive years. Multivariate analyses confirmed high morphological variation in Citrullus spp. and highlight C. mucosospermus as a homogenous group separated from other Citrullus species. This differentiation of egusi-type melon will help leverage breeding and conservation purposes as C. lanatus represent very important economic crops in the world. Based on our findings we conclude that our knowledge of the relationships between genetic variations and phenotypic traits and the determinism of morphological variations among and within Citrullus need to be further deepened.