Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 11:86 (article 36) 1988
F. Nuez and M.J. Diez
Biotechnology Department, Politechnical University of Valencia, Spain
J. Costa
Regional Center of Agricultural Research, C.R.I.A. La Alberca, Muria, Spain
J. Cuartero
Experimental Station “La Mayora: C.S.I.C. Algarrobo-Costa, Malaga, Spain
This paper reports on the recent collection of 254 accessions of Cucurbita species in Spain. Partial support for this work has ben provided by the I.P.B.G.R. / F.A.O. and the Exema Diputacion Provincial of Valencia.
Cucurbita ficifolia
Fifteen accessions of C. ficifolia have been collected in Aragon, Andulucia, Extramadura and Valencia. These accessions are used exclusively for fresh market production. They have been grown with irrigation at altitudes ranging from 12 to 823 m. Fruit of these accessions are predominantly large, round and light green colored with dark stripes. Among the accessions there exists substantial variation in fruit size and shape.
Cucurbital maxima
We have collected 37 accessions of C. maxima from Aragon, Andalucia, Cataluna, Castilla La-Mancha and Valencia. With only four exceptions, all these accessions were collected from irrigated plots between 96and 1303 m. Round and flat fruit with marked ribbing were common. One large fruited accession displayed uniform white color. This accession is primarily cultivated for baked consumption or occasionally as animal forage.
Cucurbita pepo
The largest number of collections, (192) were accessions of cucurbita pepo. The majority of these were collected in Valencia and the rest in Aragon, Andulucia, Asturias, Cataluna, Castilla La-Mancha, Extremadur and Santander. Except for two of these accessions, all are grown with irrigation at altitudes between 8 and 320 m. The fruit from this group are commonly cooked for the preparation of sausages, black pudding and doughnuts. Some accessions are also used for ornamentation. Fruit shape, color and size varied significantly among the accessions. Two accessions are remarkable for their weights; being either white and yellow with green spots. Ten accessions collected in Ademuz (Valencia) used for ornamental purposes, displayed small fruit size with wide variation in color, shape and warts.
Lagenaria siceraria
Of the 10 accessions collected, 9 were from Valencia and Castilla La-Mancha. Altitudes where the collections were made varied from 13 to 670 m. The gourds of Lagenaria siceraria are generally used as vessels to store and transport water or wine. Large variability in size and neck thickness was found among the accessions collected.
Acknowledgements: We are extremely grateful to the Servicio de Extension Agraria and to all those who have collected vegetable crop germplasm: G. Anastasio, C. Cortes, M.L. Gomez-Guillamon, C. Ferrando, R.V. Molina, M. C. Ayuso, M.S. Catala, A. Alonso-Allende