Pumpkin Cultivar Evaluation in Ohio-, 2008

 

Bob Precheur, Jim Jasinski, Mac Riedel, Landon Rhodes, and Gretchen Sutton

Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science, Southwest Extension IPM, Department of Plant Pathology, Department of Entomology, 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

Twenty four 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. All plots were transplanted on June 10, 2008 All transplants were germinated in 5 x 3.5 cm Elle pots, 10 days prior to transplanting. Admire, for cucumber beetle and bacterial wilt control, was applied to the seedlings two day prior to transplanting. Plots were 30 feet long with 15 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 times per week from mid to late July through August. A standard disease control program included the fungicides: Quadris opti on 4 Aug,12 &17 Sep, Procure + Bravo on 12, 26 Aug and 8 Sep, Quintec 19 Aug. A boom sprayer with cone nozzles at 40 psi was used for fungicide application. A standard insect control program included Sevin XLR on 14, 20 and 17 Sep. to control beetle feeding on fruit. Fruit were harvested 18 Sep, 2008.

 

Results

Cultivars are listed in Table 1 ranked according to fruit size and tons produced per acre. The top 5 varieties in terms of tons per acre produced were: RPX1626 (17 ton/A), SSX 5120 (15 ton/A), Camaro (15 ton/A), RPX1621 (13 ton/A) and HSC166014 (12 ton/A). Yield was slightly depressed this year from water damage (second wettest June in central OH) and herbicide damage from sonalan (Curbit) which stunted vine growth early in the season.

 

SSX 5120 produced the largest fruit averaging 31 lbs and significantly higher than all other varieties in the trial. In the 18 to 20 pound fruit size category, the top five were: RPX1621 (20 lb), Solid Gold (19 lb), HSC166014 (19 lb), Camaro (18 lb) and RPX 1626 (18 lb).

 

SSX 5120 is an attractive, large size pumpkin that has produced well in two years of the trial. Seed should be available for the 2009 season. RPX 1626 and RPX 1621 are very attractive in the mid size category. Camaro has very good powdery mildew resistance and slightly smooth skin. HSC144 014 is a round to slightly upright with nice ribbing. Moonshine is an attractive and productive white variety producing 6 ton/A with an average fruit size of 6 pounds. Seed, if not available for 2009, should be available for 2010.

 

Powdery mildew tolerance was evaluated twice near the end of the season but only the last evaluation on 16 Sep is listed in Table 1. The fungicide spray program was effective in controlling powdery mildew on the top leaf surface. Only 5 varieties showed any evidence of disease on top of the leaves, but below 5%. The powdery mildew severity on the lower surface (% leaf coverage) ranged from 57% to 3%. Only 11 varieties had a % severity of 11% or lower (see Table 1.). Camaro had the best resistance with only 3% powdery mildew leaf coverage. Downy mildew was observed on 5 varieties but not a significant factor this year due to dry weather. In all cases % leaf coverage was less than 3%. Microdochium (White Speck) was observed at low levels in August but gone in September because of dry weather conditions. All plots had symptoms of virus infection, mostly on the leaves and in several cases on the fruit

Individual pictures of each variety plus comparison views among varieties are available at the VegNet website:  http://vegnet.osu.edu
Table 1, 2008 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, Bottom % leaf coverage1

Microdochium2

Source

7

SSX 5120

968

15

31.5

13

10.6

0

SK

14

RPX 1626

1815

17

18.6

10.7

9.9

0.08

RU

4

Camaro

1573

15

19

12.4

2.9

0.08

HL

13

RPX 1621

1307

13

20

12.5

40

0.16

RU

16

Gold Medal

920

10

20.2

12

25.4

0

RU

11

HSC166 014

1283

12

19

11.8

12.2

0.16

NZ

12

Solid Gold

1234

12

19

11.3

32.1

0.16

RU

23

Gladiator

1428

11

16

11.6

6

0.15

HM

8

Hannibal

1210

10

17

11

47.6

0.08

NZ

17

Gold Challenger

1041

9

17.2

10.4

28.3

0.24

RU

2

ACX 6501

1549

11

14

10

24.5

0.07

AC

3

ACX 7301

1428

10

14

10.3

57.2

0.07

AC

20

Magic Wand (HMX6686)

1718

11

13

10.7

5.6

0.5

HM

15

RPX 1629

1452

9

12

9.8

12.5

0

RU

5

Earlipac

944

8

16.2

12

20

0.16

SK

21

Warlock

992

7

14

11.4

3.2

0.16

HM

1

ACX 7302

1137

7

12.3

10.6

41.3

0.08

AC

24

Magic Lantern

1016

6

12

9.7

20.1

0.25

HM

10

Moonshine (White)

2275

6.3

6

7.7

23

0.08

NZ

18

Field Trip (HMX6687)

3751

8

4

7.84

9.5

0.33

HM

22

Canon Ball

2928

6

4

6.8

7.7

0.3

HM

19

Gargoyle

2927

6

3.4

6.6

7.2

0.24

HM

6

Fall Splendor

2372

5

4.3

7.5

10.1

0.16

SK

9

Chucky

3993

4

2.2

6

10.4

0

NZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LSD 0.05%

646

6.1

4.0

1.2

15.5

0.32

 

Key To Disease Ratings in Table 1.

1.  Powdery Mildew: 2nd rating (Sep 16 08) 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.  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.

ACX 7302

ACX 6501

ACX 7301

EARLIPAC

CAMARO

SSX 5120

HANNIBAL

HSC 166 014

SOLID GOLD

RPX 1621

 

RPX1626

RPX 1629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOLD MEDAL

GOLD CHALLENGER

MAGIC WAND

WARLOCK

GLADIATOR

MAGIC LANTERN

MOONSHINE