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

Here's my thoughts:

        shape is predetermined, BUT incomplete or uneven pollination will
affect the shape. On my largest, i used only 2 males , and got a lopsided
pumpkin. I will know more when i carve this year, which may not be long
because it appears to be
slowing down.  A strange sight is on my 1092 plant.  The largets pumpkin is
on the main vine, and is shaped almost exactlylike the 1092, but a creamy
white color (it's about 170 lbs. now).  The strange thing is that i have had
4 other pumpkins on side vines of that plant which were all watermelon
shaped (long watermelons, not round ones).

Andy Wolf
Western NY

-----Original Message-----
From: GBPUMPKIN@aol.com <GBPUMPKIN@aol.com>
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com <pumpkins@mallorn.com>
Date: Sunday, August 08, 1999 8:04 AM
Subject: 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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