Bitter Gourd Project Phase V

A special project entitled “Genomics-based prediction of heterosis for yield and earliness, and stacking key resistance traits into successful new bitter gourd hybrids” is launched under the APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium with the following objectives:
  1. Develop High-Yielding, Early-Maturing, Disease-Resistant Hybrids:
    Combine high yield potential and earliness with resistance to key diseases, including begomovirus, crinivirus, and powdery mildew.
  2. Utilize Heterosis to Improve Yield and Earliness:
    • Identify and exploit heterotic groups among 400 advanced breeding lines using high-density genotypic data (GBS).
    • Select the best parental lines from complementary heterotic groups to develop superior hybrids.
    • Evaluate general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability to identify the most promising parent combinations.
  3. Conduct Multi-Location Hybrid Evaluation:
    • In the first year, evaluate parental lines, hybrids, and commercial checks at the World Vegetable Center, Thailand.
    • Member companies can then conduct multi-location trials to assess hybrid performance and stability across environments, and share data for yield and yield related traits for evaluating and selecting best parentals for hybrid crosses.
    • Delivery of new inbred lines derived from top-performing hybrids and best combiners at the end of the project.
  4. Identify Genetic Markers for Key Traits:
    • Use GBS and phenotypic data of 400 inbred lines in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify major QTLs linked to earliness and other agronomic traits.
    • Develop molecular tools for marker-assisted selection based on identified QTLs.
  5. Enhance Virus and Disease Resistance in Bitter Gourd:
    • ToLCNDV Resistance: Introgress resistance from AVBG1655 into elite breeding lines across major market segments.
    • Powdery Mildew Resistance: Develop new hybrids using 20 resistant inbred lines identified during December 2024–March 2025.
    • Crinivirus Resistance: Screen breeding lines in greenhouse and field conditions. If successful, provide resistant material as an optional project output.

For detailed project background, activities, timeline of deliverables, please refer to the project full proposal, CLICK HERE

PROJECT DURATION

  • 1 November 2025 –31 October 2028 (3 years)

PROJECT REGISTRATION PERIOD

  • 1 August – 30 September 2025

PROJECT FEES (USD)

  • Minimum of 15 companies at 30,000 USD per company
  • Maximum of 30 companies at 15,000 USD per company

AGREEMENT SIGNING AND PAYMENT PROCESS

  • 1 - 31 October 2025

Please note that ONLY the active members of the 2025 APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium are eligible to participate in this project, and all project partners undertake to share the project cost equally. The actual budget per participating company will be calculated based on the final number of registered companies.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Registration is for ACTIVE APSA and APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium members ONLY.
Username & Password is the same as Voting Representative Log-in details.

Any questions related to this project, kindly contact Ms. Kunaporn Phuntunil at kuna@apsaseed.org or Ms. Mandy Lin at mandy.lin@worldveg.org