Re: 3000# Pumpkin Paradox

Pat:  

I enjoyed your response to this interesting querry.  There certainly is
something unexplanable going on here.  I could clarify one thing in what
you said.......I'm not a bonified plant pysiologist, but I may be able to
shed a little light on the subject.  Nutrients and photosynthates can move
in all directions in the plant.   Up, down, and side to side believe it or
not.   The flow is in response to "source / sink" relationships.   For
example early in the plants growth the most "stuff" is needed in the
growing leaves so that area becomes the sink and the "stuff" moves to it. 
Later on the fruit becomes the sink and the "stuff" will move there even if
it is backwards.   Another good example is the potatoe, or any root storage
crop....even quackgrass does this.   Later in the season when the plant
senses a daylength change or water ever trips their mechanism it starts
shipping Photosynthates and goodies from the leaves were they are made to
the root parts that are storing them.  The answer is that "stuff" can move
in all directions in the plant wherever its needed.   

Interesting note:  for those of you who use Roundup to kill quack.......the
reason why experts recomend using roundup in the fall is because at that
time the quack is packing goodies down to its rhizomes for the winter. 
Applying  the chemical at that stage of growth will translocate it directly
to the roots and kill the quack from the roots.   

Hey heres a thought.....if you really want to prove that "stuff" can move
backwards in the plant somebody could sacrifice a plant and put roundup on
the distal end beyond there pumpkin.   According to theory it should
translocate back and kill much of the plant.   Just a thought!  I don't
think I'll be the one to try this though.  

What do you suppose is the mechanism that is keeping our single pumpkins
smaller than 3000 pounds??

Rick



----------
> From: PatFishman <PatFishman@aol.com>
> To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
> Subject: Re: 2000# Pumpkin Paradox
> Date: Monday, January 19, 1998 12:19 AM
> 
> Rick,
> Plants grow vegetatively and reproductively.  Daylength determines when
they
> flower.  I believe that water and nutrients flow in one direction in the
stem.
> I may be wrong.  Why do peanuts and potatoes grow under the soil?  Anyway
my
> thought is that the more leaves and stem preceding the fruit the bigger
the
> pumpkin.  The vine and leaves preceding the fruit would feed the fruit. 
The
> vine and leaves growing beyond the fruit do not contribute to the growth
of
> the pumpkin.  It would be interesting to feed the distal leaves and or
roots
> some carbon 14 to see if nutrients flow back to the fruit.  Sounds like a
> masters degree project.  The US Govt has a big greenhouse and
agricultural
> research facility somewhere in MD.  Maybe they already know the answer to
this
> question.  I bet Joe Mills or Beth Rado could find us some US
Agricultural
> Dept. websites to start posting questions on.  Most of the answers to the
> questions we have on this list could probably be answered by research. 
Our
> intentions to grow big pumpkins seem only to feed our egos.  If we really
> cared we'd go back to school to find the answers.  Are there any plant
> phisiologists on the list? We need one to pick his or her brain.  Why
don't we
> invite a few to join the list.  Send them some seeds.  Who are the
pumpkin
> experts at the Agricultural Universities on this continent?  
> It's fun to read your postings Rick,  you're a sharp individual.
> Patrick
> Tell me there is someone out there that grows these things for the fun of
it!
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