Re: the pumpkin Eve
Rick:
I too have been a bit worried on this subject. Although, not so much for now,
as in case of problems in the future. I feel it is important to
nuture/concentrate material in other lines (perhaps european or southern
hemisphere) in case problems crop up, but also for the availabvility of other
crosses to improve hybrid vigor, etc. Plus, other lines might concentrate genes
that would accomplish size or growth patterns form other than direct methods.
This would give us the options of other methods to achieve the same ends. ( see
my previous postings 11-97, & the thread connected to this)
If we lose access to this unrelated/distantly related genetic material, & I
crisis developes; we could be in real trouble. Far better to have it available,
just in case, & also for genetic experiments. I,, for one would like some work
done so that in an emergency, one would already have an idea as to the effects
of outcrossing with this new material. Established outlines or "breeder's maps"
would certainly simplify use of this material when needed.
PumpkinWitch
Richard J. Noffke wrote:
> Dan:
>
> This is a very important issue to the sport. I am very interested and
> concered about these issues. Unfortunately I have felt that the group as a
> whole has not been as concerned about it as they should. Run a search in
> the archieves I know I have participated in several very pointed
> discussions on this already.
>
> For the most part the general census has been that the selection process
> that we all do by growing the seeds from the biggest fruit is sufficient.
> I believe that this process has been a huge role in the sucess of the past
> decade of weight gains, but...
>
> However, both common sense, and major crop failure real life experiences
> show us that this is not the way to go. Would you have to mention anything
> more than the Potato famine and the Southern corn wilt?
>
> Dan I would love to dive into this discussion actively with you and anyone
> else that is interested. I don't feel it is a panic situation, but none
> the less very worthy of disussing. Genetic diversity is very important.
>
> Lets keep talking
>
> Rick
>
> ----------
> > From: Dan Shapiro <dgs@leland.stanford.edu>
> > To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
> > Subject: the pumpkin Eve
> > Date: Friday, January 09, 1998 2:58 PM
> >
> > I had a scan through Al Eaton's amazing pumpkin geneology charts, and
> > managed to compile a lineage for my own pumpkin back ~9 generations! As
> > expected, there were about 5 ancestors (TOTAL) at the leaves of the tree.
> > With a little more data, I suspect I could push it back to a single
> pumpkin
> > "Eve".
> >
> > That makes me wonder:
> >
> > (1) Is this healthy? Assuming all large gourds trace back to a very few
> > plants, are we headed for an inbreeding crash? I'm thinking of a shared
> > susceptibility to some viral disease.
> >
> > (2) If the genetic potential was determined by those few ancestors, are
> our
> > cross-breeding experiments really about "distilling out" vs "breeding in"
> > new traits? If distillation is the right model, it suggests the maximum
> > pumpkin size for this seed line is written on the wall... we just can't
> > read the handwriting yet.
> >
> > (3) Assuming pumpkin size is encoded by multiple genes, should we be
> > reaching outside that handfull of ancestors to expand the genetic
> potential
> > of the line?
> >
> > Of course,this might not be the right time to regroup since pumpkins are
> > still getting bigger by leaps and bounds.
> >
> > Dan Shapiro
> >
> >
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