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Joliet, IL

http://www.me.gatech.edu/hu/Publications/Hu11.pdf

8/20/2011 8:52:48 PM

Cedar Lake, IN.

Shazzy, you must have alot of time on your hands. I must agree it is a good read. Thanks.

8/20/2011 9:31:01 PM

Anchorage Alaska

Shazzy, my attention span isn't what it used to be , the end result of the study was..?..

8/20/2011 9:54:25 PM

Ashland, KY

Very Cool! International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics. High powered stuff. And BigPumpkins, NEPGA and GPC members were acknowledged in the paper. Very neat. Seems like the take-home message is that as pumpkins grow, the increased weight will retard the growth unless the fruit compresses (from a sphere to a "pancake"). The ability for the fruit to change shape saves the pumpkin from splitting, allowing for large sizes. Also, the paper says it is cell growth in response to sress that causes the deformation (compression) (I assumed it was just the pumpkin giving in to the weight, but it is actually asymmetric cell division). At maximal weight gain, there is maximal deformation rate.

I just skimmed the paper so I may have missed some additional points. Not sure what this means to me as a newbie grower, other than lay the pumpkin on its side and let it pancake!

EP

8/20/2011 11:32:48 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

EP, any chance yer gonna be at BWF, for the KGPG weighoff? Third Saturday in September? Peace, Wayne
PS...The KGPG is looking for a new member on the board of directors..."The Scientist" job is open!!! LOL...Serious, hope you make it to BWF!!!

8/21/2011 1:09:12 AM

Putnam Ct.

Thanks for the post Jeff , Good read to go with my coffee this morning.

8/21/2011 9:30:05 AM

Massillon, Ohio

The best sentence in this very scientific article....that we, as growers, can all relate to is.....The Atlantic giant pumpkin is a source of wonder.

8/21/2011 10:27:48 AM

Joliet, IL

lol Dale....i think the jist of it is that they grow how they want to and gravity will help them blob out if they are genetically inclined to be low riding mamas that many choose to grow like. as i sat yesterday morning and had a long smoke pondering how these freaks do this...how they actually grow this big, i went inside and googled the "mechanics of pumpkin growth biology" and this popped up. between the dry scientific analysis that i get but gives me a headache, i found some interesting tidbits about intitial cell division in regards to turgor pressure and then cell expansion and how gravitational force causes more structural load at different areas causing them to react differently in different areas as they grow. basically what EP said in laymens terms. lol. and yes Kurty, i have way too much time on my hands, and this was a nice find on a rainy morning. in the winter i will spend hours and hours googling all kinds of whacky pumpkin subjects and can't believe i haven't come across this one before. glad i can give ya some sunday morning reading material Gene, and Nana, you hit the nail square on the proverbial head. The "wonder" is what got me "wondering" and lead me to this find. enjoy your sunday all!

8/21/2011 11:36:07 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Wow Shaz...amazing what you can find when you look. A good read but to read it all...I might have to start smoking again too...

Thanks for the link.

8/21/2011 12:11:17 PM