Wenzhong Huang , Zhongmei Hong

CRO Service Station, Sanya Tihitar SciTech Breeding Service Inc., Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Plant Gene and Trait, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 3   
Received: 19 May, 2024    Accepted: 21 Jun., 2024    Published: 30 Jun., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study explores the application of chloroplast genomes in addressing phylogenetic and taxonomic challenges within the Cucumis genus. Chloroplast genomes, due to their conserved nature and maternal inheritance, provide valuable genetic markers for elucidating evolutionary relationships and resolving taxonomic ambiguities. The complete sequencing of chloroplast genomes from various Cucumis species, including synthetic allotetraploids like Cucumis×hytivus, has revealed significant genetic variations such as indels and SNPs that clarify species' evolutionary positions. Comparative genomic studies have also identified hypervariable regions and mutational hotspots within chloroplast DNA, which are essential for species identification and understanding adaptive evolution. Integrating chloroplast genomic data with nuclear and mitochondrial genomes has proven effective in constructing robust phylogenetic frameworks and resolving deep phylogenetic nodes. Furthermore, these genomic insights have practical applications in breeding programs, where they aid in developing new cultivars with desirable traits. Future research should focus on expanding chloroplast genome sequencing across a broader range of Cucumis species and employing advanced genomic technologies to enhance phylogenetic resolution and understand the genus's evolutionary history comprehensively.

Cucumis; Chloroplast genomes; Phylogenetics; Taxonomy; Genetic markers