Project Number: 3655-21000-043-02
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 27, 2004
End Date: Sep 26, 2009

Objective:
Grow and store materials from diverse populations of non-cultivated plants related to vegetable crops. Evaluate the populations for accumulation of unusual compounds and for the influence of environment (including pollnator populations) on the expression of these traits. Develop molecular markers to identify the underlying genotypes and describe the genetic diversity of non-cultivated plants related to vegetable crops in their environment.

Approach:
Diverse populations of cucurbits, potato, and wild carrot will be planted, or native populations sampled and analyzed for molecular markers and pigments/carbohydrates in storage roots, tubers, and fruit. Associations among markers, storage compounds, geographic location and microclimatic variation will be evaluated.