Breeding programmes for developing new varieties can be hastened through the technological revolution developed by a group of researchers from Wageningen UR. With this, DNA sequencing data can be connected directly with hereditary traits like disease resistance, taste and shelf life. This technological revolution involves the use of optical mapping, Illumina and PacBio sequencing technology.

Optical mapping maps a genome by using an enzyme that separates one strand of double stranded DNA in a specific location. The breaks formed are then repaired and labelled with fluorescent nucleotides. This is also capable of analyzing DNA fragments with about one million base pairs. The Illumina sequencing technology will allow short DNA fragments of up to 300 base pairs be analyzed and PacBio sequencing technology analyzed long DNA fragments of about 50,000 base pairs.

These techniques will be used for the "100 Melon Genome Project" of the Wageningen UR researchers together with researchers from East-West Seed (Thailand) and Rijk Zwaan Breeding BV  to identify the genomes of 100 melon varieties and five other wild relatives. Through this, breeding of melons for longer shelf life and better taste in a shorter time will be possible.

Full details of the story can be read at: http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/newsarticle/Understanding-melons.htm.