1998 Pumpkin Cultivar Evaluations, Hillsboro and Columbus

1998 Pumpkin Cultivar Evaluations

Columbus and Hillsboro

Bob Precheur, Thom Harker, Mac Riedel, Dwane Taylor, John Wilson, Becky Lyon, Gretchen Sutton, Bobbi Meldon, Karen Magmusen, Celeste Welty, Brad Bergefurd. Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Sci., Pl. Pathology, Entomology and Enterprise Center, OSU Columbus.

Summary of Results

In Columbus, the cultivars were divided into 2 experiments or size categories. In each experiment, half of the 4 replications were sprayed with a standard chemical disease control program and all plots received standard insecticide applications during the season. Because of the late arrival of powdery mildew, there was no significant difference in yield between sprayed and unsprayed plots. There was a significant increase in powdery mildew on handles at harvest in small pumpkins in unsprayed plots compared to fungicide applied plots. The best large and medium sized varieties in terms of tons per acre were: Gold Rush, Gold Strike, HMX 6687, Mother Lode, REX 38040, and REX 38041. The small varieties with an average fruit size of 2-8 lbs easily produce 4-8 tons of fruit/acre (see the tables). Varieties with good powdery mildew tolerance were: HMX 6687 HMX 6688, HMX 6689, HMX 5682, Wee-Be-Little, RWS 62860, and .REX 38040

At Hillsboro, 20 cultivars from different size categories were evaluated. The best medium and large varieties in terms of tons per acre were: HMX 6688, Howden, Magic Lantern, Gold Strike and REX 38041. Varieties Gold Strike, Gold Rush, HMX 6688, and Howden had some of the largest average fruit sizes. In the small size category, there are many new and interesting types with sizes ranging from 4-5 pounds down to about 3/4 of a pound per fruit. Wee-Be-Little was the smallest at 0.4 lbs per fruit and producing about 1 ton per acre.

Table 1, 1998 Pumpkin Cultivar Evaluation, Hillsboro, OH

		Marketable Orange Fruit		Average Fruit Size	Powdery Mildew
Variety	Source	No./A	Tons/A	lbs	*Foliage Rating 2 Sep**	On Handle At Harvest**
1. Mystic	HM	2387	6.9	7.6	1.5	0.75
2. Lil Goblin	HM	6546	5.7	1.3	3.0	1.25
3. Lil Ironsides	HM	4705	4.1	1.7	3.75	1.5
4. HMX 5682	HM	5796	2.7	0.8	3.5	1.75
5. HMX 6688	HM	2318	12.4	13.9	1.0	1.0
6. REX 38040	Rupp	2318	11.1	9.1	2.0	1.0
7. Wee - B - Little	NV	5182	1.2	0.4	1.0	1.0
8. Howden	HM	1977	13.8	13.1	2.25	1.25
9. Howden Biggie	HM	3205	10.7	11.7	1.25	1.0
10. Merlin	HM	1851	5.1	11.6	0.5	0.5
11. Magic Lantern	HM	2182	12.5	10.6	0.75	0.75
12. HMX 6687	HM	2114	10.7	10.1	0.5	0.5
13. HMX 6689	HM	1742	3.7	8.8	0.75	0.5
14. RWS 6260	NV	6546	5,4	1.7	1.25	1.25
15. Pro Gold 500	AC	1909	12.1	12.2	1.75	1.0
16. Pro Gold 510	AC	1432	9.4	11.5	2.25	1.0
17. Gold Strike	Rupp	2523	18.3	15.4	1.75	0.75
18. Gold Rush	Rupp	1364	10.4	13.7	1.0	1.0
19. REX 38039	Rupp	1909	9.9	9.5	2.25	1.25
20. REX 38041	Rupp	3205	17.1	10.6	2.5	1.75
LSD 0.05%		2490.5	7.58	6.34	1.00	0.63

* 1 = no trace of mildew, 2=1-25%, 3=26-80%, 4=51-75%, 5=76-100% foliage with fungal colonies and
6= necrotic leaves.

** 1= no mildew, 2= presence of mildew on handle

Table 2. 1998 Small to Medium Size Fruited Pumpkins, Columbus, OH

No Fungicide
		Marketable Orange Fruit		Average Fruit Size	Powdery Mildew Rating*	Powdery Mildew on Handle**
Variety	Source	No./A	Tons/A	lbs	24 Aug	At Rating	At Harvest
1. Mystic	HM	2069	3.9	3.9	6.0	1.5	1.0
2. Lil’ Goblin	HM	8004	5.1	1.3	5.5	1.0	1.5
3. Lil’ Ironsides	HM	7950	6.5	1.6	6.0	1.0	0.5
4. HMX 5682	HM	7895	3.5	0.8	6.0	1.0	2.0
5. HMX 6688	HM	871	1.9	4.4	1.0	1.0	0.5
6. Peek-A-Boo	NV	4356	6.0	2.8	6.0	1.0	1.5
7. Wee –B-Little	NV	2886	0.9	0.6	1.0	1.0	1.5
8. RWS 62860	NV	7079	6.7	1.9	2.0	1.0	1.0
9. REX 38039	Rupp	2069	11.4	10.4	6.0	1.0	1.5
10. REX 38041	Rupp	1797	10.9	12.5	5.5	1.0	0.5
11. REX 38040	Rupp	2124	24.3	14.0	5.5	1.0	0
12. Mother Lode	Rupp	1851	17.7	16.2	6.0	1.0	2.0
LSD 0.05		2192.6	3.57	2.94	0.70	0.44	1.23

Fungicide
		Marketable Orange Fruit		Average Fruit Size	Powdery Mildew Rating*	Powdery Mildew on Handle**
Variety	Source	No./A	Tons/A	lbs	24 Aug	At Rating	At Harvest
1. Mystic	HM	2341	5.4	4.4	1.0	1.0	0.5
2. Lil’ Goblin	HM	5881	4.3	1.5	1.0	1.0	0.5
3. Lil’ Ironsides	HM	6262	5.9	2.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
4. HMX 5682	HM	8984	4.0	0.9	1.0	1.0	1.0
5. HMX 6688	HM	1089	2.4	4.5	1.0	1.0	0.5
6. Peek-A-Boo	NV	4955	7.6	3.0	1.0	1.0	0.5
7. Wee-B-Little	NV	2777	0.7	0.5	1.0	1.5	0
8. RWS 62860	NV	6861	6.8	2.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
9. REX 38039	Rupp	2723	13.5	10.2	1.0	1.0	0
10. REX 38041	Rupp	2559	15.5	11.7	1.0	1.0	0.5
11. REX 38040	Rupp	2396	15.8	13	1.0	1.0	1.0
12. Mother Lode	Rupp	2069	16.6	16	1.0	1.0	1.0
LSD 0.05		2873.4	61.6	1.7	0	0.44	1.04

* 1 = no trace of mildew, 2=1-25%, 3=26-80%, 4=51-75%, 5=76-100% foliage with fungal colonies
and 6= necrotic leaves.

** 1= no mildew, 2= presence of mildew on handle.

Table 3, 1998 Large Fruited Pumpkin Cultivar Evaluation, Columbus, OH

No Fungicide
		Marketable Orange Fruit		Average Fruit Size	Powdery Mildew Rating*	Powdery Mildew on Handle**
Variety	Source	No./A	Tons/A	lbs	24 Aug	At Rating	At Harvest
13. Howden	HM	708	5.8	17.0	5.0	1.0	1.0
14. Howden Biggie	HM	871	9.3	19.5	5.5	1.0	1.0
15. Merlin	HM	381	2.8	16.2	3.5	1.0	0.5
16. Magic Lantern	HM	2341	11.8	11.0	4.0	1.0	0.5
17. HMX 6687	HM	1906	11.5	11.4	2.0	1.0	1.0
18. HMX 6689	HM	980	10.1	19.7	4.0	1.0	0.5
19. Gold Rush	Rupp	816	10.7	25.9	5.0	1.0	0.5
20. Gold Strike	Rupp	1525	15.3	19.7	5.5	1.0	0.5
21. Pro Gold 500	AC	1416	7.9	9.9	5.5	1.0	0.5
22. Pro Gold 510	AC	1198	10.4	15.8	5.5	1.0	0.5
LSD 0.05		943.6	7.8	5.99	2.43	0	0.908

Fungicide
		Marketable Orange Fruit		Average Fruit Size	Powdery Mildew Rating*	Powdery Mildew on Handle**
Variety	Source	No./A	Tons/A	lbs	24 Aug	At Rating	At Harvest
13. Howden	HM	545	4.2	13.3	1.0	1.0	0.5
14. Howden Biggie	HM	490	7.5	30.5	1.0	1.0	0.5
15. Merlin	HM	871	5.2	11.6	0.5	0.5	0.5
16. Magic Lantern	HM	1634	11.2	12.8	1.0	1.0	0.5
17. HMX 6687	HM	2014	13.1	12.9	1.0	1.0	0.5
18. HMX 6689	HM	1035	9.6	18.9	1.0	1.0	0.5
19. Gold Rush	Rupp	1307	14.8	22.8	3.0	1.0	0.5
20. Gold Strike	Rupp	1416	12.9	17.1	1.0	1.0	0.5
21. Pro Gold 500	AC	1416	11.2	16.7	1.0	1.5	0.5
22. Pro Gold 510	AC	1361	11.6	17.1	1.0	1.0	1.0
LSD 0.05		1156	8.4	6.56	2.13	0.50	0.50

* 1 = no trace of mildew, 2=1-25%, 3=26-80%, 4=51-75%, 5=76-100% foliage with fungal colonies
and 6= necrotic leaves.

** 1= no mildew, 2= presence of mildew on handle

Table 4, 1998 Small and Large Fruited Pumpkin Spray Program Evaluation, Columbus, OH

Small Fruited Pumpkin
	Marketable Orange Fruit		Average Fruit Size	Powdery Mildew Rating*		Powdery Mildew on Handle**
Spray Program	No./A	Tons/A	lbs	24 Aug		At Rating	At Harvest
No Fungicide	4079	7.2	5.8	4.7		1.04	1.12
Fungicide	4074	8.2	5.8	1.0		1.04	0.6

LSD 0.05	656.4	1.17	0.55	0		0.12	0.32

Large Fruited Pumpkin
	Marketable Orange Fruit		Average Fruit Size	Powdery Mildew Rating*	Powdery Mildew on Handle**
Spray Program	No./A	Tons/A	lbs	24 Aug	At Rating		At Harvest
No Fungicide	1214	9.6	16.6	4.5	1.0		0.65
Fungicide	1209	10.1	17.4	1.2	0.95		0.55

LSD 0.05	288.5	2.1	2.4	0	0.10		0.20

* 1 = no trace of mildew, 2=1-25%, 3=26-80%, 4=51-75%, 5=76-100% foliage with fungal colonies
and 6= necrotic leaves.

** 1= no mildew, 2= presence of mildew on handle

Key To Sources

AC = Abbott Cobb

HM = Harris Moran

NV = Novartis

Rupp = Rupp Seeds, Waseon, OH