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Upa Creek, Mo

When people talk the genetics of a plant, does this mean all fruit on a particular plant will have similiar characteristics like shape, growth rate, days to maturity, color, and so on given factors held constant like weather, amount of lobes, ferts, water, disease control, pollinated on main vine etc?

Or rephrased, are some alleles dominant and others recessive by fruit on a single plant similiar to human offspring from the same 2 parents (like one kid has brown eyes and the other blue)? Sorry, I know nothing about pumpkin genetics, but have been wondering.

8/9/2010 2:45:20 PM

Fresno, CA

I'm not an expert either but I think they refer to traits that are more likely to appear in offspring but not as simple as dominant and recessive like in classic Mendelian genetics.

8/9/2010 3:12:11 PM

Western PA

Their is a fair amount of info in Don Langavins book III about genetics if you are interested, not to mention lots of other good stuff.

8/9/2010 8:19:39 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Thanks guys. I actually just ordered his 2nd book last week. I heard the 3rd referred a lot back to the 2nd and it was cheaper. lol

8/9/2010 9:22:49 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I would disagree with all fruit on the pumpkin having the same characteristics. I have had wheels and lemon drops on the same plant.

8/10/2010 1:47:37 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Linus, that is kind of what I wanted to hear. I have a store bought Dills AG and my pumpkin literally stopped growing at day 25 and was a hard, dark orange by 28. I had it covered since day one, kept the plant generally healthy. I figured it was the plants genetics as it was store bought and it topped out at 150lbs. For fun, I just pollinated another off a secondary last Thursday in hopes that maybe this one will grow longer and not mature so early. I hope you are right Linus and maybe this one will vary even a little bit genetically than my first one that shut down so early.

8/10/2010 2:10:32 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Luke, even controlled genetics seeds, can produce different shapes on the same plant. More important, is yer attitude..."just for fun" leads me to believe, that you will become a force in the South!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...can't wait to see what you do with top shelf seeds!!!

8/12/2010 12:53:24 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Thanks Wayne!

8/12/2010 9:07:30 AM