Shape by genetics & pollination? (Just thinking out loud)

Shape by genetics & pollination?

Just thinking out loud.

On my 602 I have two completely different shaped Pumpkins.  One is high and 
rounded but the back near the shoulders is narrowed and it is on the main 
vine.  This was pollinated by hand using the male flower as a brush.  I 
believe the narrowing is caused buy incomplete pollination near the bottom of 
the flower.  This Pumpkin had good rapid growth during peak growing 
conditions but an uneven shape.

The second Pumpkin is on a strong side vine.   Its shape is long and full 
without any deformities.  It was pollinated entirely by Bees.   Does not 
react to changing conditions as other Pumpkins.  Just keeps plodding along 
and I suspect may not mature and slow down too much until it is much larger.  
(I hope). 

Questions/assumptions:

I'm assuming that the shape and ultimate size are controlled by genetics and 
pollination (pattern of pollination in the flower).  This could account for 
some people getting a great Pumpkin from a particular seed and another person 
gets an average Pumpkin.  It could mean that we have discounted a particular 
seed for poor performance thinking it was genetic and it was a pollination 
problem.  When you think of this it seems obvious to me but I haven't thought 
about it much before or seen Emails on the subject.

Hand pollination: Using a male flower for pollination, could that damage the 
flower?  Should and I'm sure some do, use a soft brush?  It may give better 
results especially at the back part of the flower.  Less chance of damaging 
the pollination tubes?  Do they make special brushes for pollination?

Pollination and blowouts: Could some blowouts be caused by irregular growth 
because of pollination?  The plant feeds the Pumpkin to provide pulp in 
proportion to the seed count.  If there is an uneven seed pattern will this 
cause uneven growth and stress the walls of the Pumpkin?  Will you get steady 
long lasting growth when the food is distributed to a large even seed cavity?


Doesn't this get any easier?  

Next year I'm going to try a brush, if anyone knows of a good type of brush 
please let me know.  Any comments on any my thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks
George Brooks

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