Melon research sweetened with DNA sequence People smell them,
thump them and eyeball their shape. But ultimately, it's
sweetness and a sense of healthy eating that lands a melon in a
shopper's cart. Plant breeders now have a better chance to
pinpoint such traits for new varieties, because the melon genome
with hundreds of DNA markers has been mapped by scientists with
Texas AgriLife Research. That means tastier and healthier melons
are likely for future summer picnics. "This will help us anchor
down some of the desirable genes to develop better melon
varieties," said Dr. Kevin Crosby, who completed the study with
Drs. Soon O. Park and Hye Hwang. "We can identify specific genes
for higher sugar content, disease resistance and even drought
tolerance." The results are reported in the Journal of the
American Society of Horticultural Sciences. Melons are fleshy,
edible cucurbits grown worldwide in a multitude of varieties.
Not only are they economically important, the scientists noted,
but they are a favorite amon