Miao Han

Research Progress on Cucumber Genetic Breeding during China’s ‘ The Eleventh Five-year Plan’

BackgroundThe results of many clinical trials and experimental studies regarding acupoint specificity are contradictory. This review aims to investigate whether a difference in efficacy exists between ordinary acupuncture on specific acupoints and sham acupuncture controls on non-acupoints or on irrelevant acupoints.MethodsDatabases including Medline, Embase, AMED and Chinese Biomedical Database were searched to identify randomized controlled trials published between 1998 and 2009 that compared traditional body acupuncture on acupoints with sham acupuncture controls on irrelevant acupoints or non-acupoints with the same needling depth. The Cochrane Collaborations tool for assessing risk of bias was employed to address the quality of the included trials.ResultsTwelve acupuncture clinical trials with sham acupuncture controls were identified and included in the review. The conditions treated varied. Half of the included trials had positive results on the primary outcomes and demonstrated acupoint specificity. However, among those six trials (total sample size: 985) with low risk of bias, five trials (sample size: 940) showed no statistically significant difference between proper and sham acupuncture treatments.ConclusionThis review did not demonstrate the existence of acupoint specificity. Further clinical trials with larger sample sizes, optimal acupuncture treatment protocols and appropriate sham acupuncture controls are required to resolve this important issue.Cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)scultivation counts for the largest share in protected cultivation of vegetable crops in China. It is also a significant industry for farmers making fortune. In this paper, the latest research advances achieved during‘The Eleventh Five-year Plan’in cucumber genetics and breeding were reviewed. Notable progress was made during the past five years in many aspects, such as innovation of breeding materials, appraisal and screen of germplasm, selective breeding of new varieties, studies on genetic law, molecular biology, tissue culture, establishment of transgenic system and transgenic research, etc. The existing problems were analyzed and the research work for next step was also prospected.Research on pepper (Capsicum spp.) genetics and breeding were supported by the programs of national,ministries,and provincial governments during the‘Eleventh Five-year Plan’period.Great progress has been made on the identification and evaluation of germplasm resources,breeding technology,innovation of breeding material,and new variety selection,especially on applying molecular marker technology in germplasm diversity,genetic analysis,assistant selection,etc.areas.Male sterile peeper research has also made great progress.Processing breeding was paid much attention.A group of new varieties has been developed and performance the diversity of types.At present,the major existing problems are the relatively narrow genetic resources,insufficient creative strength,and repeated research activities.This paper prospects the research focus of pepper genetic breeding.