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Location

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Date Posted

Bowdon, GA

As a grower of melons and lopes, I have not noticed a great increase in genetic potential with controlled pollination. Improved methods have alot more growers growing big fruit. But after crossing proven seeds with proven seeds the offspring doesn't seem to noticablly out preform the parents. Better methods has increased density in many cases but the basic size hasn't changed much. So how are you pumpkin guys increasing gentic potential every year? With more growers do you have a bigger pool to find gentic potential? What do you look for? Plant charateristics, fruit growth traits etc? Any help would be appreciated Thanks Jake

10/19/2012 10:45:50 PM

Colorado

Its likely a numbers game-as in a lot more pumpkin growers than melon growers.Also may be a difference in the fruit. Is there a lot of splitting with watermelons. pumpkins hollow cavities may help with not splitting.

10/20/2012 10:31:44 PM

Bowdon, GA

I've never had one split, I have heard of one spliting but from uneven water.I haven't heard of one splitting from fast growth. 7 pounds per day is about tops during peak growth.

10/20/2012 11:32:03 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I'm betting that pumpkins a a more diverse genetic makeup from the breeding practices of the pioneers of the sport. There are just more ways a pumpkin can go whereas melons may be more inbred. Most watermelons look alike. Pumpkins don't even after what seems like a mostly inbreeding program.

10/21/2012 1:44:29 AM

Bowdon, GA

I see Don, I read some of Mr. Connoly's articles on how ags came about. I think Carolina crosses can all be traced back to a cross between two lines. So your right there isn't alot of genetic diversity. At this point it may be hard to introduce more diversity without taking a step back. Thanks for the input

10/21/2012 9:49:32 PM