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Deer Park, WI

The impetus for my previous post was a hijacking of Wizzy's thoughts. And here I am now hijacking Shazzy's contribution to the previous post to give this exciting topic a thread of its own. Apparently thievery is the way of the day.

Here's an intriguing link that describes how scientists have illuminated genetic factors that control fruit weight in tomatoes:

http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/quantitative-genetics-growing-transgenic-tomatoes-1123

Crib notes: Scientists have identified 28 quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to tomato weight. In layman's terms, there are no less than 28 different genetic factors that influence tomato weight. Yikes.

One can reasonably assume pumpkin weight is comparatively complex. And just because scientists have found 28 factors doesnt mean there arent more. In fact, there may be many many more. Which is more evidence that genetics is so much more complex than we can begin to appreciate.

Additional crib note: it was somewhat disheartening to read that much of the research into QTLs is proprietary information held by large commercial entities. Certainly can respect that businesses would protect this research as intellectual property, but that limits its sharing with other research groups who could further the knowledge base and accelerate our collective understand of this incredibly complex topic.

1/26/2012 8:17:38 PM

Joliet, IL

http://www.academicjournals.org/ajb/pdf/pdf2010/11jan/balkaya%20et%20al.pdf

Good stuff Joze. Check this one out. Read the B cluster summary with heavier weight and higher fiber index. Not sure exactly what the fiber index but seeing that it says lower fiber index is better for dessert pumpkins and they describe in the study how flesh was also cooked and textures were evaluated. To me this fiber index has to be similar to the fibrous factor of flesh we see with high percentage over the chart AGs and how this fibrous flesh is tougher to cut through and more stringy. Flesh thickness is one thing, but higher fibrous flesh equals higher weights. I have thought for some time and have made posts about core sampling measuring of density to study if there is a genetic correlation. This study somewhat confirms or more like reassures me that this trait is genetic.

The reason I posted this link with your thread is to show there are many genetic variables to final weight. Besides shell size or in this study cavity size and flesh or wall thickness, the fibrous factor is also genetic.

What does all this mean to us? Keep doing like we are doing. Cross the biggest pumpkins or grow the seeds that prove to consistantly grow heavier pumpkins. And certain characteristics like over the chart pumpkins can be concentrated on in breeding decisions. This also shows the recessive less dense thinner walled smaller fruit genes are present and can show in any seed and sometimes this is why some seeds are all over the place with heavy and light. Quantitatively speaking, it is still all a crap shoot. But with continued selective breeding, we can raise the average mean and thus continually increase the odds of higher weights. There is always the nurture vs nature debate. This is some nice science to prove it is both.

1/27/2012 8:18:47 AM

President - GPC

Good Stuff gentZ....U can steal from me anytime....

1/27/2012 4:25:56 PM