Inheritance of Fruit Skin Color in Cucurbita moschata

Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 10:84 (article 44) 1987

R. W. Robinson
Horticultural Sciences Department, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY 14456

Mature fruit of C. moschata cv. Long Neopolitan (PI 287531) have mottled dark and lighter green skin, in contrast to the buff color of ‘Butternut’. The F1 of ‘Butternut’ x ‘Long Neopolitan’ had green fruit, and the F2 segregated 90 green: 32 buff. Thus, green skin color is due to a single dominant gene, designated G.

F2 fruit of ‘Butternut’ x ‘Long Neopolitan’ were weighed, measured for length and maximum diameter, analyzed for soluble solids content with a hand refractometer, and subjectively rated for flesh color. G segregated independently of genes for fruit size and weight, soluble solids, and flesh color.