The genetic base of commercial cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is extremely narrow (about 3%–8% polymorphism). Wide-based crosses within C. sativus [i.e., C. sativus var. sativus × C. sativus var. hardwickii (R.) Alef.] and interspecific hybridization attempts before 1995 have not substantially increased genetic diversity for plant improvement. However, in 1995, an amphidiploid (Cucumis hytivus Chen and Kirkbride) was derived from a C. sativus × Cucumis hystrix Chakr. mating. A derivative of this amphidiploid was used herein to broaden the genetic base of cucumber through backcross introgression [(C. sativus × C. hytivus) × C. sativus]. Initially, the combining ability of eight genetically diverse lines was investigated for days to anthesis (DA), sex expression (SEX), lateral branch number (LBN), fruit per plant (FP), fruit length:diameter ratio (L:D), and salt-processing ability [i.e., processed fruit color (exterior and interior), shape, and seed cavity characteristics]. Based on the combining ability, inbred backcross lines [IBL (BC2S3)] were developed from an original gynoecious determinate line WI 7023A [C. sativus (recurrent parent)] × monoecious indeterminate line WI 7012A (C. sativus × C. hytivus derived) mating, where 30 of 392 (8%) BC1 progeny were selected based on their diversity at 16 mapped marker loci. These progeny were used to develop BC2 progeny, which were then self-pollinated without further selection to produce 94 IBL. These IBL were genotyped and evaluated in the open field in two plantings in 2008 for DA, SEX, LBN, leaf size, FP, and L:D. The genetic distance (GD) between parental lines was 0.85, and the GD among IBL ranged between 0.16 and 0.75. Multivariate analyses indicated that IBL differed from parental lines and possessed considerable morphological and genotypic diversity that could be used to broaden the genetic base of commercial U.S. processing cucumber.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a major cucurbit vegetable species whose genetic base has been drastically reduced during its domestication. The crop's narrow genetic base (3-12% DNA polymorphism) has resulted from the use of limited genetic material and intense selection during plant improvement. Recently, however, interspecific hybridization has been successful in Cucumis via mating of C. hystrix Chakr. and C. sativus, which resulted in the amphidiploid C. hytivus. We report herein a marker-assisted strategy for increasing genetic diversity in cucumber through introgression backcrossing employing C. hytivus. The comparatively late-flowering but high-yielding, indeterminate, monoecious line WI 7012A (P 1 ; donor parent) derived from a C. hytivus 9 C. sativus-derived line (long-fruited Chinese C. sativus cv. Beijingjietou) was initially crossed to the determinate, gynoecious C. sativus line WI 7023A (P 2 ; recurrent parent 1), and then advanced backcross generation progeny (BC 2 ) were crossed with the gynoecious indeterminate line WI 9-6A (P 3 ; recurrent parent 2). More specifically, a single F 1 individual (P 1 9 P 2 ) was backcrossed to P 2 , and then BC progeny were crossed to P 2 and P 3 , where markerassisted selection (MAS) for genetic diversity (8 mapped and 16 unmapped markers; designated Sel) or no selection (designated NSel) was applied to produce BC 3 P 2 (Sel) and BC 3 P 3 (Sel), and BC 2 P 2 (NSel) and BC 2 P 2 S 1 (NSel) progeny. Relative vegetative growth, number of lateral branches (LB), days to flowering (DF), yield (fruit number), and fruit quality [as measured by length:diameter (L:D) and endocarp:total diameter (E:T) ratios] were assessed in parents and cross-progeny. DF varied from *20 (BC 3 P 2 Sel) to *25 days (BC 2 P 3 Sel) among the populations examined, where progeny derived from P 2 possessed the shortest DF. Differences in cumulative yield among the populations over six harvests were detected, varying from *8 fruits per plant in BC 3 P 2 (Sel) to *39 fruits per plant in BC 2 P 3 (Sel). Although the vigorous vegetative growth of line P 1 was observed in its backcross progeny, highly heterozygous and polymorphic backcross progeny derived

Plant materials with different ploidy levels from a series of reciprocal crosses between a wild Cucumis species (Cucumis hystrix Chakr., 2n = 2x = 24) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., 2n = 2x = 14) were used to investigate reciprocal differences in morphology, fertility, and DNA characteristics. Diameter of the stem, length of the petiole, and shape and size of the leaves of the hybrids were intermediate when compared with their parents. The length of the internode of the main stem showed maternal transmission in all hybrids, but the branching number and appearance of the first female flower showed paternal transmission. The differences in fertility of reciprocal plants were significant. When C. hystrix was used as the female parent, the diploid (2n = 2x = 19) hybrids set fruit without seeds, whereas the amphidiploid (2n = 4x = 38) plants produced fruits with viable seeds. However, when cucumber was used as the female parent, both tetraploid and diploid hybrid plants were highly sterile and did not set fruits. To further investigate variation in hybrid genomes, 21 arbitrary primers were used for random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. Reciprocal differences were detected for 15 primers. The banding patterns were different among the four types of hybrids, but there was no significant difference in the total and (or) average numbers of bands observed. We suggest that the differences in random amplified polymorphic DNA banding patterns of the hybrids are probably related to the paternal- and (or) maternal-transmitted morphological characteristics in the reciprocal cross.Key words: Cucumis, interspecific hybridization, reciprocal differences, random amplified polymorphic DNA markers, paternal and (or) maternal transmission.

Genetic variation in cucumber accessions from China was assessed by examining variation at 21 polymorphic isozyme loci. Principal component analysis of allelic variation allowed for the depiction of two distinct groupings of Chinese accessions collected in 1994 and 1996 (67 accessions). Six isozyme loci (Gpi, Gr, Mdh-2, Mpi-2, Pep-gl, and Pep-la) were important in elucidating these major groups. These groupings were different from a single grouping of Chinese 146 accessions acquired before 1994. Allelic variation in Chinese accessions allowed for comparisons with other accessions in the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (U.S. NPGS) collection grouped by continent and sub-continent. When Chinese accessions taken collectively were compared with an array of 853 C. sativus U.S. NPGS accessions examined previously, relationships differed between accessions grouped by country or subcontinent. Data indicate that acquisition of additional Chinese and Indian cucumber accessions would be strategically important for increasing genetic diversity in the U.S. NPGS cucumber collection.

The modularity logistics system is a new concept produced in network era of globalization. The modularity logistics systems have self-organization characteristic. Combining modularity theory with synergetics theory, the association between modularity logistics systems and logistics standardization system was analyzed. And from the self-organization’s point of view, analyzing the internal and external factors of modularity logistics systems, it was identified that the standardization degree and the modularity value of logistics systems are the order parameters among the co-evolutionary of modularity logistics systems. Finally, introducing synergetics to management science, the collaborative management model of modularity logistics systems is put forward based on the public information supporting platform.