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Location

Message

Date Posted

Tasmania Australia

Hi, not sure if this has been discussed before or not, but kind of interested to know if anyone has tried it an had any positive results for it.
Basically it is just using colchicine to double chromosome numbers to make the pumpkin a tetraploid (4n)
If it is a hush subject i understand also.
Cheers.

6/9/2014 7:25:48 PM

Springfield, Missouri

I'm using it in my research for my Masters degree. It's bad stuff, very toxic, and very mutagenic. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2014&grower=44491&action=L

6/10/2014 11:18:57 PM

Tasmania Australia

Will be interesting to see how this experiment works out.
Any noticeable psychical difference is shape and size of leaves or steams yet?

6/11/2014 7:47:53 PM

Colorado

Back in 1996 there was some speculation that the zehrs may have used colchicine to make tetraploid plants to grow their big pumpkins.The speculation was fueled by the fact that nobody else had great results with the zehr seeds.I have since been told that they didnt use it. I was told that they started a high number of seedlings and picked the strongest. Also they may have used a real aggressive fert. program.

6/12/2014 2:34:13 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I had a doctor prescribe colchicine for a gout attack a few years ago. My pharmacist told me it would make me puke my guts out and give me very severe diarrhea. I didn't fill the prescription and wouldn't recommend messing with it.

6/14/2014 5:49:26 PM

Rhode Island

tried it many years ago. no silver bullet effect on plant or pumpkin. dont see it as an advantage at all.we have had many champion pumpkins withot using it.
pap

6/21/2014 5:26:44 AM