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Santa Cruz, CA

At the breakfast table this morning we were discussing this really beautiful but very wrinkly pumpkin I bought at a pumpkin patch. Now, if I save the seeds from this pumpkin for next year and plant them, am I (almost) guaranteed a wrinkly pumpkin that looks like this one? It was a field pumpkin that could have been pollinated by another type of pumpkin say an AG. I'm obviously new to this and can understand if you hand pollinate how the genetics work but what about open pollination. What will the next generation look like? Will it look mostly like it's parent? Can someone give me some clarity to the question? Thanks-Creek

10/27/2005 11:25:52 AM

Eugene,OR

50% of the genes it has will reflect the charqacteristics of the pumpkin you have. The other 50% of the genetic material that its offspring/seed will be made of are from the pollinator. Since you have no information about the pollinator/father, you can't accurately predict what the offspring will look like.

10/27/2005 12:56:38 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

"It was a field pumpkin that could have been pollinated by another type of pumpkin say an AG."
field pumpkins are usually of the pepo variety AG's are Maximas and the two will not cross.

10/27/2005 1:00:27 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

My knowledge about genetics is limited, but have read repeatedly about recessive genes, and ...dominant? genes. From what I understand there is now way to tell if the wrinkly part of the genes will show up in any of the given seeds. I have heard numerous times that..."it's all a crap shoot, anyways" Probably not much help...but it's all I got. Peace Wayne

10/27/2005 10:16:00 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Hey Creek, here are some links.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=129121
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/DisplayPhoto.asp?pid=3474
http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/gourd%20webpage/red%20warty%20thing02.htm

I think this might be what you have

10/27/2005 10:56:49 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

All correct and good info. This too may help. Yes, is a simple answer to your question too. "Now, if I save the seeds from this pumpkin for next year and plant them, am I (almost) guaranteed a wrinkly pumpkin that looks like this one?" Yes.
If this pumpkin you are saving the seeds from displays some sort of characteristic(phenotype) unique to this actual pumpkin(a very wrinkly shell), and if you plant ALL the seeds from this pumpkin, you will (almost) be guaranteed a wrinkly pumpkin that looks like this one.
Although, as Vineman says, you can't accurately predict what the offspring will look like, you can predict that "some" will look like the wrinked mother you bought from the patch. And, to take it a step further, you would be far more likely to get an offspring that was all wrinkled if you grew seeds from your pumpkin than most any other. This is because you already know this fruit carries the combination of genes responsible for displaying this particular phenotype.
I wouldn't like your odds if I were playing Blackjack. But I would be laying my money down if I were playing the lottery. Good luck. BF

10/27/2005 11:36:33 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Thanks all for the info and help. I now under stand the genetics of this much better.

I did look up those links and I think I have a RWT, a "Red Warty Thing". Ice-man in Alberta crossed it with an AG and got it to go @70 lbs. Maybe I'll try that next year in the not so serious part of the patch.

10/28/2005 1:38:18 AM