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Mount Prospect,illinois

I have a pumpkin that is starting to look alot like the 1314 beauchemin. This pumpkin is the 2nd generation from the 1314. Last years selfed pumpkin from the 1314 was nice and round and a good orange bu tdidnt look like the 1314. This one is getting wide like the 1314. Is this a normal trait? Where the traits of one pumpkin dont show until the 2nd generation?

8/19/2009 12:45:47 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

It's an interesting topic that probably won't have a complete answer. This was discussed here and elsewhere several years ago.

Now, in humans, I really do believe there is something to it. Just take a look around you, people you know well,... I see it all the time. If there were no age difference, there are lots of people who are near carbon copies of their grandparents.

In giant pumpkins, I suppose it's possible. Of course it's hard to say.

Then we could start talking about mitochondrial DNA... ;-)

8/19/2009 5:45:54 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

If it could be shown to be true, it would lead to a whole new approach to picking which seeds to plant.

8/19/2009 5:48:43 PM

Springfield, Missouri

mitochondrial DNA wont have an effect on how it looks plus all AG are so closely related and mitochondrial DNA mutates at such a slow rate AG mitochondrial DNA is most likely 99.99% the same in all plants. Mendelian genetics can sum all this up pretty well, if a homozygous short plant crosses with a homozygous tall plant and tall is dominant all offspring will be tall but if the offspring are self pollinated about 1/4 of the grandchildren will be short. As for vigor in AGs epigenetics may play a big roll.

8/19/2009 6:44:01 PM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

I'm no scientist but if you look at pumpkins grown off certain seeds there are many pumpkins that look the same. I'm currently growning one that looks the same as its momma grown last year and many grown before it that came off the 842 eaton. The pumpkins grown off the 1041 McKie are the same way they have that snout on the end that is very easy to pick out.

Kirk

8/20/2009 5:33:42 AM