The Mechanisms of Cucurbit Breeding, Cultivation and Quality Regulation
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 7
Special Issue Editors
Interests: cucumber; cultivation; gene function; omics; plant factory
Interests: cucumber; cultivation; physiology; growth model; greenhouse; plant factory
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue, "The Mechanisms of Cucurbit Breeding, Cultivation and Quality Regulation," seeks to compile cutting-edge research that addresses the pressing challenges and opportunities in cucurbit science. As vital global crops, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squashes face increasing demands for yield stability, nutritional quality, and resilience against biotic/abiotic stresses, all within a framework of sustainable agriculture.
The scope encompasses interdisciplinary studies that elucidate the underlying biological, genetic, physiological, and molecular mechanisms. We invite contributions on (1) advanced breeding, including genomics, marker-assisted selection, and the development of novel varieties with enhanced traits; (2) efficient cultivation, focusing on physiological responses, resource use efficiency, substrate optimization, and adaptive management practices for changing climates; and (3) quality regulation, investigating the pre- and post-harvest factors governing fruit texture, flavor, nutritional composition, and shelf-life.
We aim to bridge fundamental discovery with applied innovation. This Issue will highlight research that deciphers mechanistic pathways to inform breeding programs and cultivation strategies, ultimately contributing to the development of superior cucurbit varieties and sustainable production systems for future food security.
Dr. Yongxue Zhang
Dr. Xiaotao Ding
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- omics
- cultivation
- breeding
- quality
- abiotic stress tolerance
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