Development of Genomic tools for Breeding in Cucurbitaceae

The project was intended to develop genomic tools for the Breeding of Cucurbitaceae species that are important crops in the Mediterranean area. The project was intended to sequence the genome of Melon and to analyze the genetic and phenotypic diversity of the melon varieties present in Spanish germplasm collections. The project had also the aim to introduce the technologies of massive DNA sequencing in the participating laboratories. Most of the groups working in Cucurbit biology in Spain (14 in total) participated in the initiative. The project finished after the publication of the first genome sequence of a higher organism that has been completed in Spain and the development of tools for genotyping and phenotyping melon varieties. A collection of representative varieties were the object of this analysis.