Plant Gene and Trait 2026, Vol.17, No.3, 197-215 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 213 pathways, as well as the regulation of cell division and expansion, thereby revealing how genetic variation is translated into different yield architectures. Meanwhile, studies on sex expression, multi-pistillate flowering, and parthenocarpy have identified multiple key loci and marker-trait associations, further clarifying the genetic networks underlying increased female flower production and enhanced fruit set and their contributions to yield formation. Future breeding for high-yield cucumber cultivars will increasingly rely on the integrated application of genomic resources, multi-omics data, and advanced selection technologies. Comprehensive gene/QTL databases, high-density SNP molecular markers, and background-selection marker systems provide powerful tools for the precise pyramiding of favorable alleles related to yield, quality, and stress resistance. Genomic selection (GS), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and gene-editing technologies, combined with rapid generation advancement and efficient phenotyping approaches, are expected to accelerate the development of ideal cucumber plant types possessing desirable fruit size, high female flower ratio, multi-pistillate flowering ability, stable parthenocarpy, and broad stress resistance. At the same time, continuous exploration of wild resources and underutilized germplasm, as well as further dissection of domestication-related QTLs and heterosis-associated loci, will broaden the allelic resource pool for high-yield and stable-yield cucumber breeding. Overall, the integration of conventional breeding approaches with genomics and molecular biology technologies has made cucumber an important crop in which high and stable yield can be achieved through the rational design and targeted pyramiding of yield-related traits. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Aparna A., Skarzyńska A., Pląder W., and Pawełkowicz M.E., 2023, Impact of climate change on regulation of genes involved in sex determination and fruit production in cucumber, Plants, 12(14): 2651. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12142651 Babatunde A., Deborah R., Gan M., and Simon T., 2023, Effects of plant density and stem pruning on plant biomass yield and economic benefits in a low-cost gravel bed aquaponic system, Journal of Applied Aquaculture, 35(4): 837-863. https://doi.org/10.1080/10454438.2022.2033664 Baral R., Vainer A., Melzer S., Hause B., and Panda S., 2025, “Bud to fruit”-hormonal interactions governing early fruit development, Journal of Experimental Botany, 76(22): 6657-6673. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraf363 Bello A.S., Huda S., Chen Z., Khalid M.A., Alsafran M., and Ahmed T., 2023, Evaluation of nitrogen and water management strategies to optimize yield in open field cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production, Horticulturae, 9(12): 1336. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121336 Bhat J.A., Feng X., Mir Z.A., Raina A., and Siddique K.H.M., 2023, Recent advances in artificial intelligence, mechanistic models and speed breeding offer exciting opportunities for precise and accelerated genomics-assisted breeding, Physiologia Plantarum, 175(5): e13969. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13969 Che G., Song W., and Zhang X., 2023, Gene network associates with CsCRC regulating fruit elongation in cucumber, Vegetable Research, 3: 7. https://doi.org/10.48130/vr-2023-0007 Chen J.C., Liu L., Chen G.X., Wang S.Y., Liu Y.Q., Zhang Z.Y., Li H.F., Wang L.M., Zhou Z.Y., Zhao J.Y., and Zhang X.L., 2024, CsRAXs negatively regulate leaf size and fruiting ability through auxin glycosylation in cucumber, Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 66(5): 1024-1037. https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13655 Cheng C., Dong C.Y., Wu L., Wu Y., Wang J.L., Gong Z.H., Feng L.P., Li Z.F., Yang F.Y., and Zheng S.H., 2025, Interaction effects of cucumber varieties and pruning methods across different growth stages, Horticulturae, 11(5): 464. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11050464 Dey S.S., Sagar V., Kujur S.N., Priyanka N., Munshi A.D., Pandey S., and Behera T.K., 2023, Cucumber: breeding and genomics, Vegetable Science, 50(Special): 208-220. https://doi.org/10.61180/vegsci.2023.v50.spl.07 Dhall R.K., Kaur H., Manchanda P., and Kaur E., 2023, Genetics and marker-assisted breeding for sex expression in cucumber, Frontiers in Genetics, 14: 1180083. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2023.1180083
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