Enhanced tolerance to biotic stresses, such as pathogens, insects and weeds, and to abiotic stresses, such as drought, fl ooding, chilling and high temperatures in cucurbit plants, is essential for their sustainable production. Many researchers have targeted these traits, and we have summarized

Gene Research Center, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ten-nodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba 305-8572, JAPAN; e-mail: [email protected]

some of their achievements in previous chapters (Chapter 6, 7, 8 and 9) of this book. Here, we emphasize the importance of parthenocarpic traits for expanding the production of cucurbit crops in the world.