Pumpkin Cultivar Evaluation in Ohio-, 2007

 

Bob Precheur, Jim Jasinski, Mac Riedel, Landon Rhodes, Mike Kelly and Alvaro Trierweiler

Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science, Southwest Extension IPM, Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.

 

Introduction

Pumpkins are the third largest fresh market vegetable in OH with nearly 7,000 acres in production. Pumpkins account for 10 to 40 % of annual gross income for some vegetable producers. It is important for our producers to use cultivars that consistently produce high yields of quality fruit. Of equal importance is to incorporate new cultivars into the program that provide good disease tolerance in order to reduce pesticide input and production costs while maintaining high quality. This project was supported in part by a research grant from the Ohio Vegetable and Small Fruit Research and Development Program.

 

Methods

Eighteen cultivars were evaluated at the OARDC Western branch in South Charleston, OH. Prior to planting, 100 lbs/A of actual N, P2O5 and K2O was applied. An additional 30 lbs of actual N per acre was sidedressed prior to vine tip. All plots were transplanted on May 30, 2007. All transplants were germinated in 72 cells deep, 10 days prior to transplanting. Admire, for cucumber beetle and bacterial wilt control, was applied to the seedling trays one day prior to transplanting. Plots were 30 feet long with 10 feet between rows and 4 feet between plants in the row. Strategy was applied for weed control pre-planting. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Trickle irrigation was available for all plots and was used 2-3 times per week from late June through August. A standard disease control program included the fungicides: Cabrio on 25 Jul, Manex + Nova, 2 Aug, Quadris opti 9 Aug, 24 Aug, Bravo + Procure 16 Aug, 14 Sep and Pristine 4 Sep. A boom sprayer with cone nozzles at 40 psi was used for fungicide application. A standard insect control program included Pounce on 21 Jun, 1 Aug and 25 Aug to control beetle feeding on fruit. Fruit were harvested 11 Sep, 2007.

 

Results

Cultivars are listed in Table 1 ranked according to tons produced per acre. Super Freak, a specialty mid size (8-10 lb) pumpkin, was planted 1 month later on 7 Jul. Two small types (< 4lbs/fruit)  and two mini-pumpkins are at the bottom of the table.

 

The highest yielding varieties (>20 lbs per fruit) in terms of tons per acre were: Mr. Wrinkles, SSX 5120, Midas Touch, Gold Medal, RPX 1295 and HMX 6685, with SSX 5120 having the highest average fruit size at 36 pounds. In second place was Mr. Wrinkles with 26 lbs/fruit.

 

The highest yielding varieties in the 16 to 20 lb fruit size category were: HMX 6686, Hannibal, 20 Karat Gold and Gold Challenger. HMX 6686 produced 24 tons. Hannibal, 20 Karat Gold and Gold Challenger both produced fruit over 16 pounds with yields ranging 16-17 tons/A.

 

In the small types, SSX 5078 and HMX 5683 produces nice, small, round 4 lb fruit. HMX 5683 has attractive , slight bumpiness.

 

Powdery mildew tolerance was evaluated four times near the end of the season but only the last evaluation on 4 Sep is listed in Table 1. The only varieties with 30% or less of the bottom of the leaves infected by powdery mildew were: HMX 6686, HMX 6685, SSX 5078, Gold Speck and Gold Dust. SSX 5120 was over 30% at 31.5 but significantly lower than other varieties with % infection ranging from 58 to 78%.

 

Individual pictures of each variety plus comparison views among varieties are available at the VegNet website:  http://vegnet.osu.edu

 

 

 
Table 1, Preliminary 2007 Pumpkin Cultivar Evaluation, South Charleston, OH

ID #

Variety

Marketable Orange
Fruit/A

Marketable Orange
Tons/A

Average Fruit Size (lbs)

Fruit Diameter (in)

Powdery Mildew Severity Top, % leaf coverage1

Powdery Mildew Severity, Bottom % leaf coverage1

Downy Mildew  % leaf coverage 2

Microdo-chium3

Virus4

Source

17

HMX 6686

2897

24

16.8

12

1.6

13.8

10.6

3.2

2

HM

8

Mr Wrinkles

1738

22

26.1

13

4.8

66.7

17.1

2.6

2

SK

10

SSX 5120

1159

21

35.8

12.7

1.8

31.5

11.2

2.5

2

SK

11

Midas Touch

1979

21

22

11.9

4.8

63.8

19

2.7

1.8

SI

2

Gold Medal

1883

20

22

12.7

3.6

68.4

15.8

2.5

1.9

RU

5

RPX 1626

2752

19

13.8

10.7

0.6

38.5

8.7

2.4

1.8

RU

7

RPX 1295

1690

17

20

12.3

6.2

66

12.5

3.2

1.7

RU

12

Hannibal

1979

17

17.4

11.4

4.3

74.5

19.5

3.2

1.7

SI

16

HMX 6685

1786

17

20

12.4

0.5

9.8

9.7

2.4

1.9

HM

4

20 Karat Gold

2028

16

15.7

10.8

4.4

58.2

12.3

4.3

1.9

RU

6

Gold Challenger

1786

16

18.1

11.6

4.3

79

17.5

3.7

1.9

RU

20

Super Freak-Knuckle Head

6180

10

8

10.4

0

72.5

8.5

1.4

2

SI

21

Super Freak - Goosebumps

1883

8

9

8.9

1.1

66.5

1.9

1.6

2

SI

9

SSX 5078

5987

11

3.6

6.7

0.33

27

20.8

3.2

1.7

SK

18

HMX 5683

4538

9

4

6.4

1.4

62.3

15.4

2.7

1.9

SK

1

Gold Speck

24,864

5

0.4

4

0

15

6.3

1.4

2

RU

3

Gold Dust

26,264

7

0.5

4

1.2

9.8

0.9

1.9

2

RU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LSD 0.05%

6511

8.2

3.7

0.9

5.7

18.3

13.1

1.2

0.3

 

Key To Disease Ratings in Table 1.

1.  Powdery Mildew: 4th rating (Sep 4 07) shown only,. Percentage of leaf area infected on top and bottom of the leaf. Average of 3 rankers, each using three leaves per plot.

2.  Downy Mildew: Percentage of leaf area infected. Average of 3 rankers, each using three leaves per plot.

3.  Microdochium (Plectosporium or White Speck) Rating score on foliage, petioles, vines and fruit: 0 = none, 1 = low, 2 = medium, 5= moderate, 7 = high, 10 = death.

4.  Virus: presence or absence of virus on foliage or fruit. 1 = virus present. 2 = no virus.