jonathan r. schultheis annette l. wszelaki w. bradfred ...vegetables.tennessee.edu/pumpkin/2012...

Jonathan R. SchultheisAnnette L. Wszelaki

W. Bradfred Thompson

Department of Horticulture ScienceNorth Carolina State University

Hort. Series No. 206

i

2012 North Carolina

Pumpkin Cultivar Trials

Hort. Series # 206

Principle Investigators Jonathan R. Schultheis Annette Lynn Wszelaki Professor and Extension Specialist, UT Vegetable Extension Specialist Vegetables Department of Plant Sciences Department of Horticultural Science University of Tennessee N.C. State University Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 Raleigh, NC 27695-7609 General Cultural Practices The pumpkin trial were grown on black plastic mulch and fertigated with drip tube. Pesticides used on all plots were chemicals labeled for that crop, (2012 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual, (http://ipm.ncsu.edu/Agchem/agchem.html). Acknowledgments We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Kaleb Rathbone (Superintendent) and Chris Leak (Supervisor), Mountain Research Station, Waynesville, NC, as well as, the personnel at the research station for their help in establishing, maintaining, and harvesting the cultivar evaluation trial. We want to also acknowledge the following seed companies for their cooperation and support: Abbott & Cobb, Inc.; Harris Moran; Hollar Seeds; Johnny’s Selected Seeds; Rupp; Sakata Seed Company; Seeds by Design; Seedway; Seminis/Monsanto; and Sieger. . Disclaimer This publication presents data from the cultivar evaluation trials conducted during 2012. Information in this report is believed to be reliable but should not be relied upon as a sole source of information. Limited accompanying detail is included but excludes some pertinent information, which may aid interpretation.

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENT COVER PAGE, Title, Principle Investigators, Cooperators, Acknowledgments and Disclaimer .................................. i TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. ii Pumpkins. ............................................................................................................................................................... .1-25 2012 North Carolina pumpkin trial cultural practices, Mountain Research Station, Waynesville, NC, 2012 ............................................................................................................................................................................1-3 Figure 1 – Pumpkin photographs – Replicated cultivars; 2012 ................................................................................ 4-12 Table 1 – Cumulative fruit weight, number, and average fruit weight for replicated cultivars; Pumpkin cultivar trial; Waynesville, 2012 ....................................................................................................................................................... 13 Table 2 – Pumpkin fruit measurements and quality ratings for replicated cultivars; Pumpkin cultivar trial; Waynesville, 2012 ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 2 – Pumpkin photographs – Observational cultivars; 2012 ......................................................................... 15-23 Table 3 - Cumulative fruit weight, number, and average fruit weight for observational cultivars; Pumpkin cultivar trial; Waynesville, 2012 ............................................................................................................................................... 24 Table 4 - Pumpkin fruit measurements and quality ratings for observational cultivars; Pumpkin cultivar trial; Waynesville, 2012 ....................................................................................................................................................... 25

1

North Carolina Pumpkin Cultural Practices for 2012 Pumpkin Variety Trial;

Mountain Research Station; Waynesville, NC

Introduction

Overall pumpkin production in North Carolina and Tennessee is relatively modest when compared to other commodities grown within each state. However, in the western part of the state, pumpkin production is extensive due to the climate and soils of the region. On average, North Carolina produces 3,000 to 4,000 acres of pumpkins per year with the acreage being spread across the state. Pumpkins grown in the western part of North Carolina and Tennessee have the advantage of cooler growing conditions and seem to experience less virus pressure than in eastern North Carolina. This can lead to better yields and quality fruit. Growers in North Carolina and Tennessee need to remain competitive in the market place and must grow and sell the best cultivars. The pumpkins were rated mainly for yield. However, each cultivar was also rated for earliness (immature vs mature), shape, color, suturing, vine type, handle characteristics, and fruit measurements. The fruit obtained from each cultivar are identified in a photograph as well.

Materials and Methods

This study was conducted at the NCSU Mountain Research Station in Waynesville, NC and the trial was the collaboration between North Carolina State University and University of Tennessee. Seeds were planted 20 June. A total of 73 varieties were evaluated, with 37 varieties being un‐replicated and for observational purposes only. The remaining 36 varieties were replicated 3 times in a randomized complete block design. Each plot measured 20 ft long with 5 plants spaced 4 feet apart and had a row spacing of 10 feet.

Fertilizer, 68 lb/acre N and 50 lb/acre K20, was incorporated into the beds on 4 June before planting. Fertigation was initiated only twice through the season. One application was applied on 2 August and the subsequent application for applied on 6 September. Calcium nitrate (15.5‐0‐0) was the source of nitrogen applied through the drip irrigation at a rate of 25lb/acre for each application for a total of 7.8 lb/acre N drip applied through the season. Cumulative amounts of fertilizer applied for the season were 75.8, 0, and 50 lb/acre of N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively.

Insecticides were applied every week or every other week as a preventative measure beginning 29 June and on the following dates (5, 11, 18, and 27 July; 2, 16, and 30 August; 13 and 26 September). The following products were alternated during consecutive spray applications to avoid insect resistance: Asana, Baythroid, Coragen, and Warrior. Fungicides were similarly applied throughout the growing season at weekly intervals. The fungicide program that was implemented consisted of the following fungicide products which were alternated during consecutive spray applications to avoid disease resistance: Presidio, Procure, Quintec, Rally, and Ranman; and applied on the following dates: 5, 11, 18, and 27 July; 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 August; 6, 13, 21, and 26 September.

2

Pumpkins were harvested 3 October (105 days after planting). Each pumpkin was weighed individually, then collectively added together to find total plot yield (weight and number of pumpkins). Yield per acre was calculated by extrapolating total yield from the 200 ft2 plot. Five representative fruits from each plot were measured to find the average length and width of each variety. Pumpkin color, shape, and suturing, and handle length, thickness, and attachment were rated subjectively for each plot.

Results

Experimental pumpkins are discussed by size class and are organized in tables in alphabetical order.

Mini Three varieties were evaluated in the mini size class (< 5 lb), all were orange, round types, besides Bumpkin which was slightly flat. Bumpkin (an industry standard) and Weeee One produced the same size pumpkins (0.8 lb) but Bumpkin was higher yielding with almost 30,000 pumpkins/acre compared to almost 27,000 pumpkins/acre. The variety XPU 9079 was larger at 3.6 lb/pumpkin and produced more than 11,000 pumpkins/acre weighing over 20.7 tons/acre. Small In the small size class (5 – 10 lb), we evaluated 6 jack‐o‐lantern varieties. Hijinks, averaged 9.2 lb/pumpkin, had significantly higher yields than the other varieties in the small class with over 10,000 pumpkins/acre. This was 1,300 more pumpkins/acre than an industry standard Field Trip (5.5 lb/pumpkin), which is also a very high yielding variety. The lowest yielding variety in the class was JPN 4112, averaging 10 lb/pumpkin, and producing 4,429 pumpkins/acre, less than half the yield of Hijinks. Medium Fifteen varieties between 10 and 25 lb comprised the medium size class. All of them were traditional orange jack‐o‐lantern types (Cucurbita pepo) with the exception of Porcelain Doll, which is a slightly flat pumpkin with pink, light salmon and/or blue coloring. The pumpkin species differed as well (Cucurbita maxima) and the fruits had deep sutures and weighed an average of 18 lb. Porcelain Doll, along with Racer, New Racer, JPN 3012, and Mrs. Wrinkles, were the highest yielding varieties that ranged from 4,646 to almost 6,000 pumpkins/acre. An important characteristic that differentiates Mrs. Wrinkles, as well as XPU 6025, from the other pumpkin varieties in the medium size class are their deep sutures. The lowest yielding varieties were ACX 8022, JPN 4912 (pumpkin size of approximately 17 lb), and Rival (the largest pumpkin size of 25.1 lb) which produced about 3,200 pumpkins/acre. Large There were 10 jack‐o‐lantern varieties evaluated in the large size class (25 – 40 lb). Pumpkin size ranged from 25.8 lbs (HMX 0688) to 34.6 lbs (ACR 8058). HMX 0688, Champion, Aladdin (an industry standard), and JPN 1912 produced similar yields of over 3,300 pumpkins/acre. HMX 0685 was the lowest yielding variety with only 1,960 pumpkins/acre, half that of the top yielding HMX 0688.

3

Extra Large Only two varieties tested were categorized as Extra Large (40 + lb.). JPN 1012 is a tall orange fruit with fairly deep sutures. It had an average fruit size of almost 44 lbs, and produced 1,960 pumpkins/acre which weighed over 41 tons. ACR 1132, a tall orange pumpkin, weighed an average of 49.5 lbs/pumpkin, and produced almost 1,600 pumpkins weighing 38 tons/acre.

Figure 1. Pumpkin Picutres - Replicated

1


2


3


4


5


6


7


8


9

Table 1. Pumpkin cultivar trial. Cumulative weight, (x100), tons/acre, and number per acre of fruit harvested including the average fruit size. Waynesville, NC, 2012.

Size Seed Class Cultivar CompanyMini Bumpkin Seeds By Design 280 b 14.0 b 29621 a 0.9 b

WeeeeeOne Rupp 234 b 11.7 b 26789 b 0.9 bXPU 9079 Sakata 414 a 20.7 a 11543 c 3.6 aAverage

LSD (0.05)

Small ACR 1032 Abbott & Cobb 580 b 29.0 b 7623 bc 7.6 bACR 1033 Abbott & Cobb 488 bc 24.4 bc 6389 cd 7.7 bField Trip Harris Moran 483 bc 24.1 bc 8785 ab 5.5 c

Hijinks Sakata 929 a 46.4 a 10091 a 9.2 aJPN 4112 Johnnny's 444 bc 22.2 bc 4429 d 10.0 aJPN 712 Johnnny's 338 c 16.9 c 6679 c 5.1 cAverage

LSD (0.05)

Medium ACX 8022 Abbott & Cobb 547 c 27.3 c 3267 e 17.0 defghApollo Harris Moran 811 abc 40.5 abc 3630 cde 22.2 ab

Gold Challenger Rupp 711 bc 35.5 bc 3485 ed 20.4 abcdJPN 3012 Johnnny's 685 bc 34.3 bc 4937 abcd 14.1 ghJPN 3112 Johnnny's 541 c 27.1 c 4138 bcde 13.1 hJPN 4912 Johnnny's 506 c 25.3 c 3194 e 16.0 efghJPN 5412 Johnnny's 659 bc 33.0 bc 3703 bcde 18.3 bcdefg

Magic Lantern Harris Moran 834 abc 41.7 abc 3848 bcde 21.8 abcMagic Wand Harris Moran 747 abc 37.3 abc 3993 bcde 18.5 bcdefMrs. Wrinkles Sakata 920 ab 46.0 ab 4646 abcde 20.0 bcde

New Racer Johnnny's 851 abc 42.6 abc 5300 ab 15.8 efghPorcelain Doll Seedway 1066 a 53.3 a 5953 a 17.7 cdefg

Racer Johnnny's 793 abc 39.7 abc 5227 abc 15.2 fghRival Johnnny's 768 abc 38.4 abc 3194 e 24.5 a

XPU 6025 Sakata 926 ab 46.3 ab 4066 bcde 22.4 abAverage

LSD (0.05)

Large ACR 8058 Abbott & Cobb 952 abcd 47.6 abcd 2759 bcde 34.7 aACR 8132 Abbott & Cobb 788 cdef 39.4 cdef 2468 e 31.9 a

Aladdin Harris Moran 1055 ab 52.8 ab 3412 abc 30.8 aBig Doris Johnnny's 853 bcde 42.7 cde 2541 de 34.2 aChampion Johnnny's 1153 a 57.7 a 3557 ab 32.8 aHMX 0685 Harris Moran 611 f 30.6 f 1960 e 31.2 aHMX 0688 Harris Moran 924 bcd 46.2 bcd 3775 a 24.7 cJPN 1912 Johnnny's 1006 abc 50.3 abc 3340 abcd 30.1 abJPN 2412 Johnnny's 734 def 36.7 def 2323 e 31.7 aSolid Gold Rupp 664 ef 33.2 ef 2614 cde 25.4 bcAverage

LSD (0.05)

Extra ACR 1132 Abbott & Cobb 762 a 38.1 a 1597 a 49.5 aLarge JPN 1012 Johnnny's 834 a 41.7 a 1960 a 43.7 a

AverageLSD (0.05)

30.85.2

664934

39.946.7

17793306

46.632.5

874221

43.711.1

2875830

7.50.9

758354

37.917.7

41721654

18.54.3

544209

27.28.1

73332047

Avg Wt./fruit

30961

15.53.1

226512385

1.80.3

Total Number / Acre

Tonnage /Acre

TotalYield

13

Table 2. Pumpkin cultivar trial. Fruit quality and measurements. Waynesville, N.C., 2012. Fruit Fruit Fruit Vine

Cultivar Color1 Shape2 Suturing3 Texture4 Type Thickness Length Attachment Length Width LDACR 1032 5.5 7.3 3.3 2.5 3.7 5.3 4.0 4.8 9.2 7.3 1.3ACR 1033 6.8 5.0 3.3 3.0 4.3 6.7 5.3 5.7 7.4 8.3 0.9QCR 1132 6.8 9.0 5.3 4.5 5.0 8.2 3.3 7.0 16.1 13.6 1.2ACR 8058 6.5 7.7 5.7 4.7 5.0 7.3 4.0 6.0 16.0 13.0 1.2ACR 8132 6.7 6.3 4.7 4.7 5.0 7.7 4.7 18.7 13.7 13.9 1.0ACX 8022 6.0 5.2 5.3 4.3 5.0 5.3 5.0 6.0 11.1 11.2 1.0

Aladdin 6.7 6.0 4.7 3.7 5.0 5.0 5.7 7.0 13.8 14.2 1.0Apollo 6.5 5.8 5.8 5.0 5.0 7.3 5.5 8.0 12.2 13.2 0.9

Big Doris 5.5 6.5 4.3 3.0 5.0 8.7 5.7 6.7 14.3 13.4 1.1Bumpkin 5.7 3.7 4.7 4.7 5.0 5.3 7.0 5.7 2.7 3.9 0.7

Champion 6.5 6.5 6.8 4.5 5.0 7.3 5.7 6.3 14.9 13.4 1.1Field Trip 7.0 4.0 6.0 4.2 5.0 6.0 7.3 6.0 5.7 8.0 0.7

Gold Challenger 6.7 5.2 5.3 4.0 5.0 6.7 5.0 7.2 11.1 11.9 0.9Hijinks 6.0 4.8 6.0 4.3 5.0 4.7 6.3 7.0 7.8 9.3 0.8

HMX 0685 5.7 4.7 5.8 5.5 5.0 8.0 9.0 8.2 11.8 14.0 0.8HMX 0688 6.3 4.8 6.7 6.0 5.0 7.7 7.7 7.3 11.3 14.2 0.8JPN 1012 5.8 8.7 7.3 5.3 5.0 6.8 4.0 7.8 17.2 14.4 1.2JPN 1912 5.7 6.5 6.7 4.7 5.0 6.0 4.8 6.5 14.7 13.4 1.1JPN 2412 5.2 5.5 6.3 5.2 5.0 6.8 5.0 7.3 12.7 13.9 0.9JPN 3012 6.2 4.3 5.0 4.3 5.0 6.5 6.8 5.2 8.6 10.8 0.8JPN 3112 6.8 4.8 4.8 3.7 5.0 5.7 6.3 4.8 8.7 10.2 0.9JPN 4112 6.3 4.7 5.0 3.3 5.0 7.7 6.3 5.0 7.7 9.0 0.9JPN 4912 6.0 5.3 4.7 4.0 5.0 7.0 5.0 5.7 10.4 10.5 1.0JPN 5412 6.3 5.2 6.0 5.0 5.0 6.3 5.7 5.7 10.9 11.5 1.0JPN 712 7.0 4.0 5.7 4.5 5.0 7.0 5.3 4.3 6.5 8.1 0.8

Magic Lantern 6.8 5.8 5.3 4.2 5.0 6.0 5.7 7.0 11.8 12.3 1.0Magic Wand 6.3 5.0 5.7 5.0 5.0 6.8 5.0 7.3 10.8 11.9 0.9Mrs. Wrinkles 5.8 4.7 8.5 6.7 5.0 7.2 4.3 7.0 10.2 12.8 0.8

New Racer 6.7 4.7 7.3 4.7 5.0 6.3 5.7 5.7 9.2 11.3 0.8Porcelain Doll pinkish-blue 3.2 9.0 6.8 5.0 7.0 5.0 2.0 7.0 11.6 0.6

Racer 6.8 5.0 6.8 4.3 5.0 6.5 5.7 5.7 9.1 10.8 0.8Rival 5.7 5.7 7.2 5.3 5.0 6.3 5.7 5.7 19.8 12.8 1.6

Solid Gold 5.8 4.8 3.8 2.7 5.0 7.3 6.3 6.0 11.8 12.7 0.9WeeeeeOne 5.2 5.0 4.7 5.2 5.0 5.3 7.7 5.7 3.3 3.5 0.9XPU 6025 6.7 5.0 8.0 7.3 5.0 7.0 4.7 7.3 11.5 12.3 0.9XPU 9079 6.7 5.0 3.3 3.7 5.0 7.0 5.5 6.0 6.2 6.4 1.0

Average 6.2 5.4 5.7 4.6 4.9 6.7 5.6 6.5 10.8 11.2 1.0

LSD (0.05) 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.1 0.7 0.9 1.3 6.3 3.6 1.3 0.31 Color Scale: 1 = yellow, 5 = orange, 9 = burnt orange.2 Fruit Shape Rating: 1 = flat, 5 = round, 9 = tall.3 Fruit Suturing: 1 = none, 5 = medium, 9 = deep.4 Texture Rating: 1 = smooth, 5 = semi-rough, 9 = rough5 Handle Rating: Length: 1 = short, 5 = medium, 9 = long. Attachment: 1 = poor, 5 = average, 9 = excellent. Thickness: 1 = thin, 5 = medium, 9 = thick.6 Fruit measurements = Individual length and width values were taken from 5 fruit per replication, (15 total), in inches. The LD ratio was determined by dividing the length by the diameter.

Handle5 Fruit6

14

Figure 2. Pumpkin Pictures - Observational Cultivars

1


2


3


4


5


6


7


8


9

Size Seed Tonnage / Total No. / Avg Wt./Class Cultivar Company Acre Acre fruitMini Goblin Eggs Johnny's 0.2

Koshare Hollar 7.35 72092 0.2Pear Bi-Color Hollar 11.4 73834 0.3

Autumn Wings Blend Johnny's 5.13 27878 0.4Galaxy of Stars Rupp 8.64 43778 0.4

Small Spoon Hollar 17.8 97574 0.4Shenot

Crown of ThornsCasperita Seedway 10.9 20038 1.2

Autumn Crown Johnny's 21.0 15028 2.8Gargoyle Harris Moran 27.2 11979 4.5

Caveman's Club 44.6 19384 4.6Average 16.72 41796 1.4

Small Flatso Seedway 30.7 8930 6.9Birdhouse Johnny's 34.0 9583 7.1

Speckled Swan Johnny's 33.5 8494 7.9Red October Johnny's 22.1 5445 8.1

Kakai Johnny's 24.3 5445 8.9Lunch Lady Seedway 43.5 9148 9.5

Average 31.4 7841 8.1

Medium Marina Di Chioggia Johnny's 25.6 3920 13.4Red Eye Rupp 16.2 2178 14.9

Galeaux D'Eysines Rupp 20.7 2831 14.9Jarrahdale Johnny's 46.2 5663 16.3

Small World of Color Rupp 25.1 3049 16.5Knucklehead Seigers 37.2 4138 18.0

New England Chedder Rupp 39.4 4138 19.0Goosebumps Johnny's 43.5 4356 20.0

Rouge Vif D'Etampes Johnny's 46.2 4138 22.4Dickinson Seeds by Design 43.1 3703 23.3Average 34.3 3811 17.9

Large Jewel Box Seedway 33.7 2396 28.2Ritz Seedway 61.0 4792 30.7

Average 47.4 3594 29.5

Extra Large Phatso III Siegers 45.8 1960 45.7New Moon Hollar 67.3 3267 55.0Full Moon Johnny's 33.2 1089 61.0Big Moose Seedway 49.6 1525 65.1Prizewinner Seminis 47.3 1525 70.4

Wyatt's Wonder Rupp 33.5 871 76.9Monster Smash Rupp 47.3 1089 86.9

Average 32.0 1618 65.9

Table 3. Observational Pumpkin cultivar trial.Tonnage per acre and number per acre of fruit harvested including the average fruit size. Waynesville, NC, 2012

13.2 36373 0.7Hollar

24

Table 4. Pumpkin cultivar trial - Observational plots. Fruit quality and measurements. Waynesville, N.C., 2012. Fruit Fruit Fruit Vine

Cultivar Color1 Shape2 Suturing3 Texture4 Type Thickness Length Attachment Length Width LDBig Moose 4.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 5.0 7.0 2.0 5.0 16.2 18.4 0.9Casperita white 4.0 8.0 2.0 5.0 5.0 7.0 5.0 2.9 4.3 0.7

Flatso 5.0 3.0 6.5 5.0 5.0 4.5 5.5 5.0 5.6 9.0 0.6Jarrahdale blue 3.0 9.0 5.0 5.0 6.0 2.0 1.0 7.0 11.0 0.6Jewel Box buff/blue 4.0 6.0 9.0 5.0 4.0 1.0 8.0 10.8 12.1 0.9

Galeux D'Eysines pink peanuts 2.0 1.0 2.5 5.0 7.0 5.0 3.0 6.1 10.7 0.6Knucklehead 8.0 6.0 3.0 2.0 5.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 11.2 10.6 1.1Lunch Lady 1.6 8.0 2.0 4.0 5.0 4.0 6.0 5.0 11.6 6.7 1.7

Marina Di Chioggia dark green-gray 3.0 9.0 9.0 5.0 9.0 1.0 2.0 6.7 11.4 0.6Monster Smash 5.0 6.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 7.0 3.0 2.0 19.7 19.3 1.0

New England Chedder buff 4.0 6.0 2.0 5.0 3.0 2.0 4.0 9.0 12.1 0.7New Moon white 5.0 4.0 3.0 5.0 7.0 4.0 1.0 15.2 15.9 1.0Prizewinner 5.0 4.5 3.0 2.0 5.0 4.0 2.0 2.0 15.9 18.4 0.9

Red Eye red 3.0 2.0 6.0 5.0 7.0 2.0 1.0 8.3 11.0 0.8Red October 5.0 2.0 7.0 5.0 8.0 4.0 1.0 11.1 7.8 1.4

Ritz red-pink 3.0 4.0 8.0 5.0 8.0 4.0 1.0 9.7 14.4 0.7Rogue Vif D'Etampes red 2.0 6.0 5.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 1.0 7.0 13.3 0.5

Wyatt's Wonder 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 5.0 6.0 2.0 6.0 12.9 12.1 1.1

Average 4.8 4.1 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 3.5 3.3 10.4 12.1 0.9

1 Color Scale: 1 = yellow, 5 = orange, 9 = burnt orange.2 Fruit Shape Rating: 1 = flat, 5 = round, 9 = tall.3 Fruit Suturing: 1 = none, 5 = medium, 9 = deep.4 Texture Rating: 1 = smooth, 5 = semi-rough, 9 = rough5 Handle Rating: Length: 1 = short, 5 = medium, 9 = long. Attachment: 1 = poor, 5 = average, 9 = excellent. Thickness: 1 = thin, 5 = medium, 9 = thick.6 Fruit measurements = Individual length and width values were taken from 5 fruit per replication, (15 total), in inches. The LD ratio was determined by dividing the length by the diameter.

Handle5 Fruit6

25

jonathan r. schultheis annette l. wszelaki w. bradfred ...vegetables.tennessee.edu/pumpkin/2012...

Documents