Cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae; Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Citrullus spp.)

Lebeda, Ales; Widrlechner, Mark; Widrlechner, M. P.; Staub, J.; Ezura, H.; Zalapa, J.; Kristkova, E.

Cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae; Cucumis spp., Cucurbita spp., Citrullus spp.)

File

2007_Widrlechner_Cucurbits.pdf (2.85 MB)

Date

2007-01-01

Authors

Lebeda, Ales

Widrlechner, Mark

Widrlechner, M. P.

Staub, J.

Ezura, H.

Zalapa, J.

Kristkova, E.

Authors

Person

Widrlechner, Mark

Associate Professor

Organizational Units

Organizational Unit

Agronomy

The Department of Agronomy seeks to teach the study of the farm-field, its crops, and its science and management. It originally consisted of three sub-departments to do this: Soils, Farm-Crops, and Agricultural Engineering (which became its own department in 1907). Today, the department teaches crop sciences and breeding, soil sciences, meteorology, agroecology, and biotechnology.

History
The Department of Agronomy was formed in 1902. From 1917 to 1935 it was known as the Department of Farm Crops and Soils.

Dates of Existence
1902–present

Historical Names

Department of Farm Crops and Soils (1917–1935)

Related Units

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)

Organizational Unit

North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station

The North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station manages and provides plant genetic resources and associated information. As a result of working at the station, student employees should improve their professional skills related to communications, ethics, leadership, problem solving, technical agronomy, international awareness, and an appreciation of diversity.

Organizational Unit

Horticulture

The Department of Horticulture was originally concerned with landscaping, garden management and marketing, and fruit production and marketing. Today, it focuses on fruit and vegetable production; landscape design and installation; and golf-course design and management.

Department

AgronomyNorth Central Regional Plant Introduction StationHorticulture

Abstract

The Cucurbitaceae is a remarkable plant family, deserving of attention because of its economic, aesthetic, cultural, medicinal, and botanical significance. In the Old and New Worlds, cucurbits have been associated with human nutrition and culture for more than 12,000 years (Brothwell and Brothwell 1969; Lira-Saade 1995). Thus, the Cucurbitaceae, along with the Brassicaceae and Asteraceae, can be considered families of extraordinary importance to humans, and they follow cereals and legumes in their economic significance to human economy (Whitaker and Davis 1962; Nayar and More 1998).

Comments

This is a chapter from Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement: Vegetable Crops 3 (2007): 271.