The VII International Symposium on Cucurbits with the theme of “Cucurbit crop nutrition and human health” was successfully held in Zhengzhou from June 11-15, 2023. It was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China for high-level cooperation and exchange activities.
Henan Agricultural University
Chinese Horticultural Society
Watermelon and Melon Research & Development Center, CARS
Major Vegetables Research & Development Center, CARS
National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops
Henan Institute of Science and Technology
Northeast Agricultural University
Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Vegetable Research Institute of Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Henan Ouland Seed Industry Co., LTD
Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticulture Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of South Asian Fruits and Cucurbits
Deng Xiuxin, Ferdinando Branca, Li Tianlai, Yu Jingquan, Gu Xingfang, Zhang Xingping, Liu Wenge, Xu Yong, Cecilia McGregor, Zhang Xian, Yang Xingping, Shaker Kousik, Soliman Ahmad Omran, Luan Fishi and Jordi Garcia-Mas, Abdelhafid Bendahmane, Catherine Dogimont, Xu Yongyang, Du Shengli, Yiqun Weng, Chen Jinfeng, Zhang Shengping, Zhang Xiaolan, Wen Changlong, Sun Xiaowu, Belen Pico, Li Haizhen, Qu Shuping, Zhou Junguo, Xie Dasen, Li Guojing, Manuel Jamilena, Zhang Youjun, Miguel A. Aranda, Li Baoju, Gu Qinsheng, Zhao Tingchang, Bei Zhilong, Zhang Mingfang, Yuling Bai, Zhangjun Fei, Zhang Zhonghua, Umesh K. Reddy, Zhang Chao, Bhimu Patil.
Fang Jinbao, Wang Lirong, Hu Jianbin, Xu Yongyang, Liu Wenge, Yang Luming, Zhu Lufang, An Zhendong, Sun Dexi, Gu Qinsheng, Gao Qinglu, Luan Fhi, Yang Xingping, Li Wenyue, He Nan, Zhao Guangwei, Yu Qiaoli, Xu Qianqian, Zhang Chunling, Qi Wenli, Zhu Hongju, Lu Xuqiang, Kang Baoshan, Zhu Yingchun, Shang Jianjian, Wang Pingyong, Dou Junling, Li Na, Yuan Gaopeng, Tang Lingli, Dong Shao Yun, Zhang Jie, Ren Yi, Yang Sen, Li Xiang, Wang Panqiao, Zhang Peiji, Wang Lei.
This conference was conducted both offline and online and offline. More than 400 representatives from 17 countries and regions, including France, Italy, India, the United States, Spain and South Korea, were participated in the conference.
A total of 866 new varieties of cucurbits crops from 107 units in China were collected including, 342 watermelon varieties, 274 melon varieties, 79 cucumber varieties, 58 pumpkin varieties, 37 wax melon varieties, 29 bitter gourd, 17 loofah, 12 hairy gourd, 5 wild species, 3 lagenaria gourd, 2 snake melon, 2 common melon, 2 gourd melon, 2 summer squash, 1 West Indian melon, and 1 Zambian melon.
On June 11, the Organizing committee invited 25 well-known experts from all over the world to evaluate the 866 new varieties of cucurbits crops and 38 excellent new varieties were selected. These varieties included 9 new varieties of mini watermelon, 6 new varieties of big size watermelon, 11 new varieties of melon, 4 new varieties of cucumber, 3 new varieties of pumpkin, and 5 new varieties of other cucurbits crops.
On June 12, at the opening ceremony of the conference, Professor Ferdinando Branca, Chair of the Vegetables, Roots and Tubers Division, ISHS, Academician Deng Xiuxin, President of the Chinese Horticultural Society, Jin Ke, Director of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Pan Gang, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Henan Province, Professor Liu Xiaoyong, Vice President of Henan Agricultural University attended and delivered speeches. Professor Fang Jinbao, director of Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, presided over the opening ceremony.
Day 1: June 12-13, the conference's agenda was oral presentations and posters. The oral presentations were divided into 4 parts: germplasm resources and genetic breeding, postharvest and fruit quality, biological and abiotic stress, biotechnology and genomics, with 49 academic reports, including 12 invited reports, 29 general reports and 8 youth forum reports. A total of 68 posters and 83 abstracts were displayed. The conference presentations and posters covered the latest research progress of cucurbits crops worldwide, and the conference research contents will be published on Acta Horticulturae of Cucurbits 2023. .
Day 2: June 13, Professor Ferdinando Branca, Chair of the Vegetables, Roots and Tubers Division, ISHS, organized the working conference of the ISHS, at which Professor Liu Wenge, who was from Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was elected as the next Chair of Cucurbitaceae Workgroup, ISHS.
At the closing ceremony, Professor Gu Xingfang, Chair of Cucurbitaceae Workgroup, ISHS, on behalf of the ISHS, awarded Liu Wenge the Executive President's certificate and medal of the VII International Symposium on Cucurbits. Awarded the ISHS Young Minds Award for the best poster to Mr. Zhao Yong from Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the ISHS Young Minds Award for the best oral to Mr. Siqi Zhang from the University of Paris Saceray, France.
ADay 3: June 14, the Organizing Committee organized an activity for the participants to view the performance of 866 new cucurbits varieties and visit the Wanbang International wholesale market for agricultural products.
This conference gathered top experts and young scholars in the field of cucurbits crops research around the world and was a grand event in cucurbits crops research.It has built an international platform for extensive cooperation and exchange for practitioners and graduate students engaged in research, production, teaching and sales of cucurbits crops worldwide.
AThe conference convening was highly appreciated by Ms. Kelly Van Dijck, Secretary General of the ISHS, and Professor Ferdinando Branca, Chair of the Vegetables, Roots and Tubers Division, ISHS. The VII International Symposium on Cucurbits is an international academic conference initiated by the ISHS, held every four years, and is the world's most authoritative cucurbits crops academic conference.
AOn behalf of the organizing committee, we thank you for participating in the VII International Symposium on Cucurbits!
