Precision breeding of cucumber: CRISPR-edited loci for trait improvement

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a globally important vegetable crop. However, conventional breeding for trait improvement is limited by low efficiency and long breeding cycle duration. Over the past five years, CRISPR-based genome editing has rapidly advanced cucumber research, providing a precise tool for functional gene analysis and targeted improvement of agronomic traits. This review summarizes the recent strategies and representative applications of CRISPR technology in cucumber, focusing on plant architecture, stress tolerance, sex differentiation, parthenocarpy, and fruit development. The potential of CRISPR-edited loci for precision breeding in cucumber is further evaluated, along with the current technical constraints and challenges in trait integration. Finally, future perspectives are discussed, emphasizing the optimization of editing systems for multi-gene manipulation and systematic trait evaluation to accelerate the translation from gene discovery to breeding applications.