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Pinedale, WY

Maybe I have been confused all these years, but I always thought that the pollinator had an effect on the pumpkin that you pollinated. Now I read this article and it states that the pollinator will only effect the seeds that come from the pumpkin grown. That all the size, shape, and color comes 100% from the female. Is this true? I know every other form of life that I can think of, the male has traits that show up. I would be interesting to see if I am the only one that didn't know this, or if this is debatable.

http://www.pumpkinnook.com/howto/genetics.htm

7/10/2008 1:36:13 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Yes it's true. The pollinator only comes into play on the next generation of seed. Someone with more scientific knowledge than I will have to go into detail but I think it is a fact beyond debate.

7/10/2008 1:50:44 PM

Western NY

yes, it's true. you can pollinate with a hubbard squash if you would like, and it won't change you pumpkin, only the offspring.

7/10/2008 8:41:03 PM

Pinedale, WY

Interesting, that makes the pollination selection easier in a way.

7/10/2008 9:48:41 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

The traits show up in the offspring....Your wife did not end up looking like you when she had children did she :)

7/11/2008 1:56:59 PM

Pinedale, WY

good point

7/11/2008 2:03:19 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Yep it is true, easiest way to think of it is the way Shannon put it!

7/11/2008 2:10:13 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Great point Shannon! I'll have to remember that one.

7/11/2008 3:27:00 PM

Manitoba

I must be stupid. why does my pumkin not just grow with out pollen from a male.no pollen no pumkin.If the male has nothing to do with size. I see my plant telling the world that it wants to have a little pumkin. . If i use pollen from a miny pumpkin. could i still grow a 1689 pounder? what do you think? well maybe 400 lb.

7/12/2008 10:40:01 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

beanhead,

Not unless the "miny" is a C.Maxima it would likely not take.

The reason it needs male pollen is the same reason why a female mammal in heat will not get pregnant without sperm.

I would not waste a 1689 seed by crossing it with an inferior strain of C.Maxima however, BUT if the female flower gets "pregnant" regardless of the male flower that pollinated her, she will still become as big as the vine she is growing on wants her to be.

If all I wanted was a big JOL, and had no interest in saving seeds, and was growing one generic AG, and had nothing to pollinate her with ( no ripe AG males), and I also had a few Hubbards growing in a separate garden I would just use a male off a Hubbard and later eat the seeds of the AG, which would still grow into a nice pumpkin.

7/19/2008 11:55:13 AM