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RE: Mutated Blossom Segments

The kind of abnormal growth you describe sometimes occurs from herbicide 
injury.  Has there been nay 2,4-D or other lawn herbicide applied near the 
plant?   It can also be due to viruses (at least in other plants---I am not 
sure about pumpkins.)  Of course, the genetic mutation is also a 
possibility.  Having deformed blossoms doesn't mean that this will be 
passed on to the next generation.

Harold Reetz
Dr. >>Harold F. Reetz, Jr.
>>Potash & Phosphate Institute (Midwest Director)
>>Foundation for Agronomic Research (Vice President)
>>111 East Washington Street
>>Monticello, Illinois 61856
>>
>>Phone: 217-762-2074
>>FAX:	217-762-8655
>>e-mail:  hreetz@ppi-far.com   or   hreetz@uiuc.edu
PPI Home Page:   http://www.agriculture.com/contents/ppi/
Information Agriculture Conference:    http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/INFOAG/

-----Original Message-----
From:	GBPUMPKIN@aol.com [SMTP:GBPUMPKIN@aol.com]
Sent:	Sunday, July 13, 1997 8:48 PM
To:	chrisa@value.net; pumpkins@athenet.net
Subject:	Re: Mutated Blossom Segments

In a message dated 97-07-13 11:06:28 EDT, chrisa@value.net (Chris Andersen)
writes:

<< Subj:	Mutated Blossom Segments
 Date:	97-07-13 11:06:28 EDT
 From:	chrisa@value.net (Chris Andersen)
 To:	pumpkins@athenet.net

 Hi ,

 I have a plant which I continue to  find mutant blossom segments on.

 The segments are completely disorganized, sideways upside down, crooked 
and
 what have you.

 This morning the first female on my main vine opened and this one is 
really
 distorted, only 3 segments, some of the segments are swollen to 3x the 
size
 of a normal segment and again in a state of total disarray.

 Is it OK to pollinate these mutants, or should I pollinate and keep 
waiting
 in hopes the plant throws a normal female then cull the mutants. I don't
 really want to pass this problem down the gene pool line if I should ever
 give any seed away, that is if the plant will even grow a pumpkin. At this
 point I am seriously starting to have my doubts.

  Does anybody know what causes this strange occurrence?

 Thanks
 Chris Andersen
 Moraga, Calif.

  >>


Until you have one bigger that 40" you like anything goes.

George
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