Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40244644›Full record

ArticleAnnals of botany2025

Molecular polymorphisms of the nuclear and chloroplast genomes among African melon germplasms reveal abundant and unique genetic diversity, especially in Sudan.

Odirichi Nnennaya Imoh, Gentaro Shigita, Mitsuhiro Sugiyama, Tran Phuong Dung, Katsunori Tanaka, Mami Takahashi, Kazusa Nishimura, Yuki Monden, Hidetaka Nishida, Mashaer Goda and 2 more

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Article in Annals of botany, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Ancient DNA reveals early use of melons in China's Song dynasty.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026
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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Odirichi Nnennaya ImohGraduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
Gentaro ShigitaGraduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
Mitsuhiro SugiyamaInstitute of Vegetable and Floriculture Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Mie 514-2392, Japan.
Tran Phuong DungGraduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
Katsunori TanakaFaculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Aomori, 036-8561, Japan.
Mami TakahashiGraduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
Kazusa NishimuraGraduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-3298-8271
Yuki MondenGraduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
Hidetaka NishidaGraduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
Mashaer GodaPlant Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Center, Agricultural Research Corporation, Wadmadani, Sudan.
Michel PitratINRAE, UR1052, Génétique et amélioration des fruits et légumes, 84143 Montfavet cedex, France.
Kenji KatoGraduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsAfrica is rich in wild species of Cucumis and is considered one of the places of origin of melon. However, our knowledge of African melon is limited, and genetic studies using melon germplasms with wide geographical coverage are required. Here, we analysed the genetic structure of African melons, with emphasis on Sudan.

methodsNinety-seven accessions of African melon were examined along with 77 reference accessions representing Asian melon and major horticultural groups. Molecular polymorphisms in the nuclear and chloroplast genomes were investigated using 12 RAPD, 7 SSR and 3 SNP markers. Horticultural traits, including seed size, were measured for 46 accessions, mainly from Sudan. KEY

resultsAfrican melons were divided into large and small seed-types based on seed length: large seed-type from Northern Africa and small seed-type from Western and Southern Africa. Both seed types are common in Sudan. Molecular genetic diversity in these geographical populations was as high as in India, the Asian centre of melon domestication. Large seed-types from Northern Africa were assigned to Pop4 by structure analysis and had Ib cytoplasm in common with Cantalupensis, Inodorus and Flexuosus. Small seed-types were highly diversified and geographically differentiated; specifically, Pop1 with Ia cytoplasm in Southern Africa and South Asia, Pop2 with Ia in East Asia, including Conomon and Makuwa, and Pop3 with Ia or Ic in Africa. Sudanese small seed-types were grouped in Pop3, while their cytoplasm type was a mixture of Ia and Ic. Sudanese Tibish had Ic cytoplasm, which was unique in Africa, common in Western Africa and Sudan, and also found in wild or feral types.

conclusionsMelon of Ic lineage, including Tibish, originated from wild melon in the 'western Sudan region', and independently of melon with Ia or Ib cytoplasm, which originated in Asia. This clearly indicates the polyphyletic origin of melon.

Indexed as

CucurbitaceaeGenetic VariationGenome, ChloroplastGenome, PlantPolymorphism, GeneticCell NucleusPhylogenyPolymorphism, Single NucleotideRandom Amplified Polymorphic DNA TechniqueSeedsSudanAfricachloroplast genomeCucumis melodomesticationgenetic diversitygenetic resourcesmaternal lineagemelonphylogenypolyphyletic originseed sizeTibish

Identifiers

PMID40244644
PMCPMC12358025

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