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Zone 6, Missouri

This question has been hovering in the back of my mind, can you in-breed a pumpkin to many times? Like ? x self and ? x Self ect. I know this sounds wierd, but I'm new to big pumkin breeding and I would like to know so I don't mess somthing up.

Thanks

4/4/2007 2:54:53 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Several of the best seeds have been selfed several times. Then crossed with something unrelated to produce an excellent seed.

4/4/2007 7:53:00 AM

Zone 6, Missouri

Thanks Shannon for the help.Also I'm thinking of pollinating the 549.5 female with the male 818.5, and pollinating the the 818.5 x self? What do ya' think?

Thanks again.
Jason

4/5/2007 1:05:10 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Nothing wrong with a 1370 selfed 2 generations in my book. That 549.5 of April's is a nice pumpkin to grow. Should go big, orange, and heavy like her 2005 fruit.

4/5/2007 7:53:08 AM

Nashville, TN

Since I'm in the longterm process of creating intensely inbred lines for scientific study, I can tell you one observation I've made: Even as I continue to inbreed (self) - the average size of fruit in the research patch continues to increase..

Environment vs genetics.. The environment and growing techniques to grow these specialized plants - increases every year. Thus, the plants become healthier and produce bigger - even though inbreeding depression SHOULD be affecting this characteristic.

But previous research has pointed to the size of the plant and fruit to be more dependent on the environment.

4/10/2007 10:44:06 AM