APSA is happy to announce a brand new webinar series consisting of 6 sessions covering Cucurbit crops in Asia and Pacific Region (Watermelon, Melon, Bitter gourd, Cucumber, Pumpkin & Squash and other gourds). Each session is to be held on Friday each month from July to December 2022 at 18.00 - 20.00 hrs Bangkok time (ICT/GMT+7).
| TIME (GMT+7) | AGENDA |
| 18.00 – 18.05 |
Opening of the Webinar |
| 18.05 – 18.10 |
New variety releases or endorsements |
| 18.10 – 18.40 |
“Advances in genomics assisted breeding in pumpkin and squash” |
| 18.40 – 19.00 |
Discussion and Q&A Session |
| 19.00 – 19.30 |
“Combining Resistance with Quality in Squash” |
| 19.30 – 19.50 |
Discussion and Q&A Session |
| 19.50 – 20.00 |
Closing remarks |
Dr. Shyam Sundar Dey
Senior Scientist, Division of Vegetable Science,
ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute
Profile:Dr. Shyam Sundar Dey is Senior Scientist working on improvement of Cucurbitaceous vegetable crops at Division of Vegetable Science, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He is working on understanding the economically important traits in cucumber and gourds for their improvement and development of elite breeding lines and cultivars with resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses and higher productivity. Current research interest in his programme are 1. Characterization of large set of cucumber and gourd germplasm for resistance to downy mildew and ToLCNDV 2. Introgression of DM, Gynoecism and Parthenocarpy in elite genotypes and parental lines 3. Molecular mapping of DM and ToLCNDV and understanding the associated molecular networks.
Abstract: Pumpkin and quash are important group of vegetable crops grown worldwide and faced several problems effecting productivity and quality. They have different growth habits from the viny stem to draft plant architecture. Development of large set of EMS induced mutants enabled development of novel germplasm and functional characterization important traits and their better understanding. Molecular mapping and identification of possible candidate genes for economically important traits which matter most to the farmers and consumers will be discussed in the lecture. Besides, the scope of application of genome editing tools and future strategies for sustainable production of these crops will be discussed under the circumstances of different emerging challenges.
Prof. Michael R. Mazourek
Associate Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science Plant Breeding and Genetics Section Horticulture Section, Cornell University
Profile:
Prof. Mazourek is a vegetable breeder that serves grower needs through improving disease and insect resistance as well as flavor in agroecologically based production systems. He currently is an Associate Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science Plant Breeding and Genetics Section Horticulture Section. His research interest is on the chemistry that underlies and mediates plant adaptation to the biotic environment with the consideration that humans are a part of this biotic environment that has co-evolved with plants. He is very notable for developing the honeynut squash, a cultivar of a cross first developed by Cornell University plant breeder Richard W. Robinson. Around 2006, Prof. Mazourek developed a cultivar that successfully entered USA national markets in 2015. He received assistance in developing the product from Dan Barber, chef and owner of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York.
Prof. Mazourek was featured in Grist 50: The 50 People You’ll Be Talking About in 2016. His story of the honeynut squash was featured in Saveur Magazine, Saveur 100—Honeynut Squash #39. He also received Cap Creal Editorial Journalism Award from the NYS Agricultural Society in 2016.
| COUNTRIES | TIME ZONES | EVENT TIME |
| NY, USA | UTC -04:00 | 07:00 – 09:00 |
| France | UTC +01:00 | 13:00 – 15:00 |
| Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria | UTC +02:00 | 14:00 - 16:00 |
| Kuwait, Turkey | UTC +03:00 | 15:00 - 17:00 |
| Iran | UTC +03:30 | 15:30 – 17:30 |
| Pakistan | UTC +05:00 | 16:00 - 18:00 |
| India, Sri Lanka | UTC +05:30 | 16:30 – 18:30 |
| Nepal | UTC +05:45 | 16:45 – 18:45 |
| Bangladesh, Krygyztan | UTC +06:00 | 17:00 - 19:00 |
| Myanmar | UTC +06:30 | 17:30 - 19:30 |
| Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam | UTC +07:00 | 18:00 - 20:00 |
| China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong-China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore | UTC +08:00 | 19:00 - 21:00 |
| Japan, South Korea | UTC +09:00 | 20:00 - 22:00 |
| Australia (Canberra) | UTC +11:00 | 21:00 - 23:00 |
| New Zealand (Wellington) | UTC +13:00 | 23:00 - 01:00+1 |