Pumpkin genetics and line development

I would think he is making a statement as to which is more towards an ideal
type. I did not know that, with giant pumpkins, we were really striving to a
type, rather than just larger and larger size.

Apparently he feels that the Zehr line produces pumpkins that have a rounder
and more uniform shape. Many of the Dill's Atlantic Giants tend to be even a
bit squash-like, in that they (as said) are a bit longer and flatter.

At an informed guess; the reference to the Atlantic Giant Pumpkin being
around before Howard Dill: it probably was.  Just not known by the name
"Atlantic Giant". People have been striving for larger size, in all sorts of
vegetables, for more than a few decades.

Howard put enough efforts into his strain, to be recognized as the Founder
of his line of pumpkins. I thought that he had even coined the phrase
"Atlantic Giants".  As a result, I feel the reference to earlier "Atlantic
Giant Pumpkins" is misleading. I believe that line started with Howard, who
even gave it his name.

The remark concerning the Zehr seems more like a "comparison remark" to
measure progress and the similarity of descendents to their progenitor and
the standard being striven for.

We each have, in addition, a personal goal, type, standard, etc, which we
are breeding for, in our own lines. You all know, for example, that the Ol'
PumpkinWitch wants bright orange (or even red orange), round or slightly
oval, well-shaped pumpkins, with thick walls. I want size, but not at the
expense of shape or color.

Someone else's lines may have different goals. I know may of you couldn't
care less about the shade of orange, or the "perfect shape" as long as the
pumpkin is huge and heavy.

I have found with my pumpkins that the walls of my larger ones are 4-6"
thick. The pumpkins hold their shape, better, and of course, I would think
the thicker the walls, the heavier the pumpkin.

If a line produces fruit that show a tendency to have a smaller open area
and thicker walls; It might not need to be as large in order to be heavier
than the larger pumpkins. It would also probably keep better.

It's usually the denser walled fruits and vegetables that keep better, and
most of them have little to no open area in the center. Pumpkins and squash
are less moist than melons, and have much tougher, thicker walls. Notice the
difference in keeping time and vulnerability to damage.

The exciting part of this is that we will all have the opportunity to have
an effect on the future development of the giant pumpkin. It's going to be
interesting to see what the next few years bring forth.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Smithhisler, Paul" <Paul.Smithhisler@dnr.state.oh.us>
To: <pumpkins@hort.net>
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 7:27 AM
Subject: RE: REAL selfing (:GENETICS)


> I am curious...I thought the Atlantic Giant was Howard Dill's creation?
If
> so, why does this guy at Indiana Biolabs (reference your earlier link)
> indicate that AG's have been around for nearly a century.  I know Howard
is
> getting up in age, but come on!
>
> -Gus
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark K [k*@adelphia.net]
> Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 7:47 PM
> To: pumpkins@hort.net
> Subject: RE: REAL selfing (:GENETICS)
>
> Kath, did you read Chapter 23, "Conversations with a Squash" in Carol
> Deppe's book? Also, there's supposedly (depending on who is the source)
> 40, 44 or 48 chromosomes for C. Maxima varieties and chromosomes may
> have hundreds or thousands of genes. There's a lot of good reading in
> the book, however it takes a while to understand it, it's not something
> I would recommend as reading for a backyard gardener, crop farmer or the
> general person trying to grow an AG-- it's very technical-termed and
> hard to remember all the terminology.
>
> I remember saving some webpages a year or two ago and did a search thru
> about 65 gigs of files on my computer and 2 external drives and FINALLY
> found the pages (and recognize some of the names as list members) having
> to do with Genetics, white seeds, tan seeds, Dominant traits, etc. I'm
> not sure if this stuff is AGGC original content or made it into that
> site, I was cancelled admittance to that site when it did a
> rearrangement last year (I thought acceptable contributions meant
> content, how-to's, articles, pics, etc.) I did a search for the pages
> and some are still on the web; start here:
>
> http://www.disknet.com/indiana_biolab/pk.htm
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Mark K.
>
> P.S. Mike, e-mail me what the current "acceptable contributions" are.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf
> Of Kathie Morgan
> Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 6:31 PM
> To: pumpkins@hort.net
> Subject: REAL selfing
>
>
> Still curious to know which AG genes are believed to be dominant, and
> whether any traits are linked. Thanks! Kathie
>
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