Ten F1 hybrids of sponge gourd developed through Line × Tester method were evaluated for yield and related traits. Significant variation in mean performance was noticed for all the characters studied. Different hybrids were found best for different traits. The best performing hybrids for different characters include DSG-6 × ‘Pusa Sneha’ for earliness; DSG-7 × […]
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The Quality of Seed of Cucurbita sp. is Determined by the Development of its Embryo
The seeds of Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata and C. pepo present an excellent potential for human nourishment since they are a source of proteins (1) and minerals. Their lack of use is due to the hardness of the hull and lack of knowledge regarding the existence of hull-less seeds of C. pepo and C. maxima. […]
An Austrian Cucumber Mosaic Virus Isolate is Causing Severe Symptoms on Resistant Cucurbita pepo Cultigens
In 2005, we discovered some plants of a zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV)-tolerant oilpumpkin breeding line (Cucurbita pepo), severely affected by a virus. Our first assumption was that ZYMV might have overcome the resistance, but ELISA tests revealed that most likely cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) caused the symptoms, although ZYMV was detected in very low […]
Confirmation of a Dominant Hard Rind (Hr) Locus in a Cucurbita argyrosperma ssp. sororia x C. moschata Cross
One of the traits that often characterize fruits of non-domesticated Cucurbita is lignified (hard) rinds. Fruit of domesticated Cucurbita can have either lignified or nonlignified (soft) rinds. Schaffer et al. (6) noted that many summer squash cultivars of C. pepo, which are usually consumed within 10 days post-anthesis, have lignified rinds at maturity. On the […]
Performance of Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus Resistant ‘Golden Delicious’ Type Pumpkin Hybrids
The Cucurbita maxima ‘Golden Delicious’ (GD) type is the preferred pumpkin grown for processing and culinary seed production in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Processors value their large size (five – 10 kg), thin, red-orange skin (which will not blemish processed product) and high quality flesh (7% soluble solids and 10% total solids). Culinary seed […]
Breeding Classic Cucurbita maxima Buttercup Squash for Increased Genetic Diversity
The unique ability for cucurbits, naturally outcrossers, to withstand inbreeding has allowed pedigree line breeding techniques to become the industry standard for development of new squash varieties, buttercup included (1; 7). Self-fertilization is preferred because it ensures rapid homozygosity and the fixation of desirable characteristics within the variety (1). A method of recurrent selection breeding […]
A Apetalous Gynoecious Mutant in Watermelon
A gynoecious (gy) mutant was previously described in watermelon (Jiang and Lin, 2007; Fig. 1). This original gy mutant will eventually produce some perfect flowers which will allow the genotype to be selfed and maintained. A apetalous gynoecious mutant was observed from gynoecious line ‘Mi Guo’ grown in the winter nurseries in Sanya, Hainan in […]
A New Dwarf Mutant dw-4 in Watermelon
A spontaneous dwarf mutant was discovered from inbred watermelon line ‘5-6y’. Genetic study showed that the dwarf mutant is genetically stable and the dwarf trait is inherited as a single recessive gene. Allelism test showed that the new dwarf gene is not allelic to the two known dwarf genes dw-1 and dw 2. The allelism […]
Green-Fleshed Watermelon Contains Chlorophyll
Many popular and technical reports on watermelon flesh colors ignore green, an uncommon color. The earliest report of this color mutant that we were able to find dates back more than one hundred years. In this report, inheritance of pink-fleshed vs. green-fleshed genes in watermelon was explored and resulted in fruit intermediate in character, the […]
A Rapid Spectrophotometric Method to Determine β-Carotene Content in Cucumis melo germplasm
β-carotene is a carotenoid that has antioxidant properties, is a precursor of Vitamin A, and imparts the orange color in some fruits and vegetables. This compound is the major carotenoid in cantaloupe. Because of its health benefits, the β-carotene content in fruits is of interest to the food industry and to melon breeders. Current methods […]