Biotic Stresses in Cucurbits: Status, Challenges, Breeding and Genetic Tools to Enhance Resistance

Abstract

Cucurbits are a major vegetable crop that contributes significantly to world vegetable output and nutritional security. In many circumstances, biotic stressors result in significant crop losses or full crop failure. In light of this, the chapter discusses the importance of cucurbits in global nutritional security, major biotic stresses, genetic resources of resistant/tolerant genes, conventional and genomic assisted breeding strategies, biotic stress management through transgenic approaches, and the development of multiple biotic stress resistant varieties. Furthermore, the chapter stresses efforts such as genetic engineering, Genome editing technology in cucurbits crop improvement, Gene stacking, Gene Silencing, cisgenic approaches and vegetable grafting technology for improvement for biotic stresses.