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Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) is a valuable vegetable with a high content of bioactive compounds. The present study aims to optimize the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) parameters to achieve the highest yield of total phenolic content (TPC) from its pulp (PPU) and peel (PPE). Response surface methodology (RSM) in conjunction with central composite design was used. The factors considered were (i) ethanol concentration, (ii) microwave power level, (iii), irradiation time and (iv) solid to liquid ratio. The models obtained produced a satisfactory fit to the data regarding to TP extraction with desirabilities of 0.99 and 0.83, for PPU and PPE, respectively. The optimum conditions for their extraction were found to be ethanol concentration 60%, microwave power 300 W, extraction time 138.67s and a solid-to-liquid ratio 1/30 g/mL for PPU. And for PPE, they were ethanol concentration of 46.42%, microwave power of 100 W, extraction time of 180 s and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1/36.33 g/mL. Under these optimized conditions, the experimental maximum yields of TPC were 795.41 ± 20.21 and 548.09 ± 13.68 mg GAE/100 g dry weight, respectively for PPU and PPE which was in close agreement with predicted values, thus indicating the suitability of the developed models. The antioxidant activity of the optimized extracts was determined using DPPH· and ABTS·+ radicals scavenging, ferric reducing power (FRAP) and total antioxidant activity (TAA). In the entire tests, PPU extract exhibited the best capacities with IC50 of 1324.45 ± 16.57, 1992.85 ± 34.55, 476.51 ± 1.63 and 480.67 ± 10.50 µg/mL in DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and TAA assays, respectively. Nevertheless, both optimized extracts revealed a moderate antimicrobial effect. According to FT-IR analysis, all found functional groups support the occurrence of phenolic acids and flavonoid compounds in the optimized extracts. The study revealed the effectiveness of MAE in enhancing the phenolic yield of PPU and PPE in a reduced time and lower solvent consuming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this research was to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory properties of the Cucurbita pepo fruit. Given the adverse effects associated with long-term use or excessive doses of conventional anti-inflammatory medications, exploring herbal therapies as alternatives has become increasingly important. Methods: Various preliminary tests and antioxidant assays, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic, were conducted on the C. pepo fruit. Bioactive substances present in the fruit, including alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, tannins, amino acids, triterpenoids, and saponin glycosides, were identified through early analysis. Different extraction solvents, such as chloroform, methanol, and water, were utilized to extract samples. The methanolic extract was subjected to further testing for its in vitro anti-inflammatory characteristics. This involved evaluating their ability to stabilize RBC membranes, inhibit protein denaturation, and suppress proteinase activity using two concentrations (150 µg/ml and 300 µg/ml) of the extract. Results: The methanolic extract of the C. pepo fruit exhibited strong free radical scavenging activity in both DPPH and H2O2 assays. Moreover, it demonstrated the dose-dependent stabilization of RBC membranes, resulting in reduced hemolysis, protein denaturation, and proteinase activity. These findings suggest potent anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract. Conclusion: This research study has found that the C. pepo fruit methanolic extract significantly reduced inflammation. This demonstrates the promise of natural chemicals as less risky substitutes for traditional anti-inflammatory medications. Potentially safe and efficient treatments for inflammatory illnesses could be found in herbal remedies such as the C. pepo fruit. Therefore, this study highlights the significance of exploring herbal remedies as a potential treatment option for inflammation-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Soil and water salinity is an important limiting factor affecting yield and production levels in arid and semi-arid areas. Salt tolerance during germination is an important parameter that also affects the other plant development stages. In this respect, this study was designed to determine the responses of pumpkin seed varieties (Develi, Ürgüp, Hybrid) to different NaCl salinities. The study was carried out in 2022 in the laboratory of Biosystems Engineering Department of Erciyes University in randomized plots design with 3 replications. Experiments were conducted with 5 different water salinity. Germination percentage (GP), germination index (GI), mean germination time (MGT), seedling vigor index (SVI), ion leakage (Il), radicula length (RL) and plumule length (PL), root and shoot fresh and dry weights and some mineral composition (Na, K, Ca) were examined. Proline, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and DPPH content were significantly affected by salinity. In scatter plot correlation analysis SVI a positive correlation was observed between GP (r2 = 0.774), GI (r2 = 0.745), RL (r2 = 0.929), FRW (r2 = 0.837), FSW (r2 = 0.836), DRW (r2 = 0.894), AC (r2 = 0.747), TP (r2 = 0.640) and DPPH (r2 = 0.635). It was determined that there were negative correlations between SVI and MGT (r2 = − 0.902), II (r2 = − 0.588), DSW (r2 = − 0.682) and PR (r2 = − 0.344). Present findings revealed that investigated parameters were significantly affected by increasing salinity levels. While Hybrid cultivar was the most affected by salinity, Develi cultivar was found to be resistant to saline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent release of 2,4-D- and dicamba-tolerant soybean traits has increased the risk of off-target herbicide injury and yield loss for specialty crop growers in the midwestern United States. Most dicotyledonous plants, including many specialty crops like pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), are susceptible to synthetic auxin herbicides; however, the relationship between off-target herbicide rate, visible crop injury, and eventual yield loss is not well documented. The objective of this 2-year field study in 2019 and 2020 was to determine the effect of sublethal herbicide rates of 2,4-D and dicamba on visible injury and crop yield loss in pumpkin when applied at the vegetative and flowering growth stages. Herbicides included 2,4-D choline salt (1066 g ae·ha21 labeled rate) and dicamba diglycolamine salt (560 g ae·ha21 labeled rate) ranging from 1/500 to 1/4 of the labeled rate. Visible injury ratings were recorded every 7 d after application and pumpkins were harvested and weighed when ripe. Injury and yield data were fit to a four-parameter log-logistic regression model to estimate effective doses (ED) required for 5% to 50% visible injury or yield loss. Pumpkin treated with the 1/10 and 1/4 rates of 2,4-D at both growth stages had visible injury (± 1 SE) ranging from 8% (± 3%) to 55% (± 3%), but injury did not always result in yield loss. Maximum yield loss from 2,4-D was 32% (± 2%), observed following the 1/4 rate at the vegetative growth stage in 2020 (estimated ED for 20% yield loss was ~1/50). Pumpkin treated at the vegetative growth stage with the 1/10 and 1/4 rates of dicamba resulted in 65% (± 6%) to 82% (± 1%) visible injury and 33% (± 2%) to 86% (± 14%) yield loss (estimated ED for 20% yield loss was ~1/10 in 2019 and ~1/15 in 2020). At the flowering stage, dicamba rates of 1/10 and 1/4 caused visible injury of 31% (± 2%) to 74% (± 5%) and yield loss of 26% (± 10%) to 60% (± 14%) (estimated ED for 20% yield loss was ~1/20 in 2019 and ~1/5 in 2020). Susceptibility of pumpkin to 2,4-D and dicamba suggests herbicide applicators and pumpkin growers should consider strategies that mitigate off-target movement, including using nozzles that increase droplet size, shielded sprayers, thorough tank cleanout, buffer zones, and programs that facilitate communication between applicators and growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass, size, and shape attributes are important for the design of planters, breeding studies, and quality assessment. In recent years, machinery design and system development studies have taken these factors into consideration. The aim of this study is to explore classification models for four pumpkin seed varieties according to their physical characteristics by machine learning. Binary classification is important because it ensures that the quality characteristics of the seeds are very similar to each other. The pumpkin seed varieties of Develi, Sena Hanım, Türkmen, and Mertbey were discriminated in pairs. Five machine learning algorithms (Naïve Bayes, NB; support vector machine, SVM; random forest, RF; multilayer perceptron, MLP; and kNN, k-nearest neighbors) were applied to assess the classification performance. In all pairs, the pumpkin seed varieties of Develi and Mertbey were discriminated with the highest accuracies of 85.00% for the MLP model and 84.50% for the SVM model and 83.50% for the RF. In the MLP algorithm, TP rate reached to 0.790 for Develi and 0.910 for Mertbey, Precision to 0.898 for Develi and 0.813 for Mertbey, F-measure to 0.840 for Develi and 0.858 for Mertbey, PRC area to 0.894 for Develi and 0.896 for Mertbey, and ROC area to 0.907 for both varieties. Variety of pairs was followed by Sena Hanım and Türkmen (84.50%, MLP) and Türkmen and Mertbey (82.50%, SVM). For the selected input attributes, the highest mass (0.23 g), length (22.08 for Mertbey, 21.43 for Sena Hanım), and geometric mean diameter (8.79 mm) values were obtained from Sena Hanım variety, while shape index (3.40) from Mertbey variety. Multivariate statistical results showed that differences in attributes were significant (p < 0.01). Wilks' lambda statistics found that the portion of the unexplained difference between groups was 46.60%. Develi and Sena Hanım varieties with the lowest Mahalanobis distance values had similar characteristics. Present results revealed that SVM and MLP may be used effectively and objectively for the classification of pumpkin seed varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root and crown rot incited by an oomycete, Phytophthora melonis, causes significant yield losses in commercial pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) production worldwide. Currently, resistant cultivars and knowledge of molecular mechanism of C. pepo against P. melonis are scarce. Here, we analysed the quantitative gene expression changes of 10 candidate gene markers (bHLH87, ERF014, HSF, MYB, PR-1, WRKY21, CPI, POD, PSK, SGT) in pumpkin roots and leaves at three time points (h post-inoculation, hpi) following inoculation with P. melonis in two resistant (Ghelyani and Tanbal), and two susceptible (Marmari and Khoreshti) varieties of pumpkin. Gene expression using quantitative real time PCR along a time course revealed the strongest transcriptomic response at 48 and 72 hpi in resistant genotypes, 1.1-2.7-fold in roots and leaves, respectively, with a high significant correlation (r = 0.857**-0.974**). We also found that CPI, PSK, SGT1 and POD act as a dual regulator that similarly modulate immunity not only against P. melonis, but also against other diseases such as early blight (Alternaria cucumerina), powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii), downy mildews (Pseudoperonospora cubensis), and pathogenic plant nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica). Furthermore, significantly higher activities of the ROS scavenging defence enzymes, catalase (1.6-fold increase) and peroxidase (6-fold increase) were observed in the roots of resistant cultivars at different hpi compared with non-inoculated controls. In addition, the biomass growth parameters including leaf and root length, stem and root diameter, root fresh weight and volume were significantly different among studied genotypes. Cumulatively, the transcriptome data provide novel insights into the response of pumpkins for improving pumpkin breeding to P. melonis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging and menopause are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Here, we evaluated the antioxidant properties of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed extract and assessed its ameliorative effects on aging- and menopause-related diseases using Saos-2 cells and ovariectomized rats. The seed extract had bioactive components that exhibited antioxidant activity. The extract increased the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of Saos-2 cells. The oral administration of the extract to ovariectomized rats for 12 weeks decreased their body weight, fat weight, and cardiac risk indices. It also contributed to reductions in the levels of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and inflammation, as assessed by measuring the serum levels of malondialdehyde and analyzing gene expression in rats. Furthermore, the administration of the extract also promoted an enhancement of the transcription of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (Ho-1), and catalase (Cat), involved in antioxidant activity; endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNos), involved in vasculoprotective activity; and PR/SET domain 16 (Prdm16) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (Pgc1α), involved in brown adipogenesis and thermogenesis. Our results using ovariectomized rats show that pumpkin seed extract may have ameliorative effects on menopause-related diseases by increasing ALP activity, evaluating the antioxidant system, ameliorating oxidative stress and thermogenesis, and enhancing lipid profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the characteristic properties of pumpkin pulp flour (PPF) obtained from the waste of the pumpkin seed production were determined. The pulp parts of the de-seeded and peeled pumpkins were used for this purpose. Proximate composition, total dietary fiber (TDF), insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), soluble dietary fiber (SDF), mineral content, amino acid content, ß-carotene content, pH, color, glass transition temperature (Tg), water holding capacity (WHC), oil holding capacity (OHC), swelling capacity (SC), emulsion stability (ES) and emulsion activity (EA) values of PPF were determined. PPF had a low lipid content (0.72±0.06%) and a high ash content (8.34±0.19%). The pH, Tg, TDF, IDF, SDF, WHC, OHC and SC values are 5.61±0.01, 19.19±1.86°C, 26.13±0.17%, 19.82±0%, 6.31%±0.35, 12.91±0.40 g/g, 3.74±0.10 g/g, 12.48±0.57 mL/g, respectively. PPF were a rich source of glutamic acid, glycine, and aspartic acid, and contains high levels of potassium among major elements, and iron among minor elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the removal of reactive blue 19 dyestuffs in aqueous systems was investigated by the adsorption method using activated carbon obtained from pumpkin seed waste. Activated carbon obtained from pumpkin seed waste functionalized with ZnCl2 was used as an absorbent. Pumpkin seed hydrochar was characterized by FT-IR, SEM, TGA-DTA, BET, and XPS. In the experimental stages, the adsorption equilibrium time was determined as 45 minutes, the adsorbent dosage was 0.8 g and the optimum pH was 6.0. After this step, the adsorption parameters of Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms were investigated. It has been pointed out that the adsorption process fits better with the Freundlich isotherm model, and the adhesion occurs in a multilayered manner and on a heterogeneous surface. Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms support that the bonding mechanism is realized by physical interactions. When the kinetic data were evaluated, adsorption mechanism was found to be compatible with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic parameters of adsorption indicate that the system is endothermic, and the adsorption of reactive blue 19 on activated carbon is a spontaneous process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of high temperature and low humidity on the crop water stress index (CWSI) of seed pumpkin plants grown under semi-arid climate conditions to determine the optimum irrigation time. This research unveils the critical impact of high temperature and low humidity on seed pumpkin growth, emphasizing the vital role of the CWSI in optimizing irrigation strategies and seed yield. Moreover, the relationship between CWSI, physiological parameters, and seed yield of the pumpkin was investigated. The mean CWSI values in the I70 (0.40) and I35 (0.56) treatments were 42% and 100% higher, respectively than those in the full irrigation (I100) treatment (0.28). While the I70 treatment showed manageable water stress with minimal impact, the I35 treatment experienced severe stress, significantly reducing crop growth and yield. The mean seed yield (SY) in the I70 treatment increased to 1245.2 kg ha-1 compared to I35 (903.3 kg ha-1) but remained lower than I100 (1339.3 kg ha-1). The CWSI had negative correlations (p = 0.01) with seed yield, chlorophyll content, and leaf area index, while it had positive correlations with water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency (p = 0.01). This study showed that pumpkins could be grown successfully at 30% water deficit conditions, and a water deficit higher than 30% may cause a significant seed yield loss in semi-arid climate conditions. In addition, the results highlight the importance of optimal irrigation and CWSI monitoring for informed irrigation decisions and sustainable agricultural practices. Therefore, moderate water deficit (I70) can be adopted in pumpkin cultivation as an alternative to full irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkins (Cucurbita sp.) are currently sold in retail commercial bins categorized based on fruit size. There are no standards for these fruit sizes, thus creating discrepancies across the industry. Furthermore, there is not a published partial budget analysis for pumpkin fruit yield based on plant area. An observational study was conducted to quantify and standardize the fruit sizes of pumpkins packed into commercial bins. These proposed standardized fruit sizes were then correlated to the expected fruit size and quantity of different plant areas to estimate the total commercial bin yield. Additionally, a partial budget analysis was conducted to calculate the greatest profit per hectare with the varying plant areas. Pumpkins from bins labeled medium, large, extra-large, and jumbo were hand-measured to determine the diameter, length, and weight. Based on a discriminate analysis, 20% of pumpkins were incorrectly sorted based on current practices. The proposed standard fruit diameters for each bin size are as follows: medium, 23.5 to 26.8 cm; large, 26.9 to 29.9 cm; extra-large, 30.0 to 33.6 cm; and jumbo, 33.7 to 35.5 cm. The results of a partial budget analysis showed that the most profitable plant spacing area is 0.9 m² with a 1.5-m row width, which will earn $37,163/ha. Profit for pumpkin production is contingent on both fruit quantity and fruit size because these factors dictate the quantity and category of commercial bins. Growers should consider bothmetrics to optimize their operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processing methods, especially cooking, can cause quality losses, particularly in the nutritional value of the fresh product. This study investigated the effects of preprocessing methods on the nutritional properties of pumpkin and the physicochemical and sensory properties of pumpkin yogurt. Two different pumpkin varieties (Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita maxima) were subjected to three different preprocessing methods (freeze‐drying, boiling, and baking). Boiling significantly increased antioxidant activity (p ≤.05), followed by baking. C. maxima had higher TDF and TPC than C. pepo, but in both pumpkin varieties, TDF did not change with heat treatment (boiling and baking), while TPC decreased. Mineral contents remained the same or decreased with heat treatment, except for Mn and Fe. In particular, the addition of C. maxima significantly affected the color parameters (L*, a*, b*) of yogurt and improved WHC (from 68.9% to 91.6%) and hardness (from 58.0 to 193.5 g; p ≤.05). The sensory evaluation concluded that heat‐treated (boiled and baked) samples were preferred more than freeze‐dried raw ones. In conclusion, the results revealed that adding boiled and baked pumpkins, especially the preference for C. maxima instead of C. pepo, improved the quality parameters of yogurt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the nutritional properties of dietary lipids obtained through the modification of aqueous enzymatically extracted pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo. L) oil. The optimal growth conditions for producing pectinase using strain Aspergillus sp. 391 were determined, and partial characterization of pectinase and commercial cellulase was conducted. The enzymatic extraction was performed at pH 4.0, 50 °C, for 24 h, using a combination of pectinase and cellulase for optimum effectiveness. The crude oil obtained was analyzed for acid, peroxide, and fatty acid composition. The study found a high amount of unsaturated fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid (C18:2), and a 59% oil recovery rate. Subsequently, this oil was subjected to enzymatic acidolysis with capric acid in solvent-free media, catalyzed by lipase Lipozyme RM IM®, resulting in a product with a higher incorporation degree (48.39 ± 0.5 mol%), observed after 24 h at 60 °C using molar ratio oil:acid capric of 1:9 (run 4). The nutritional properties of this oil were improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkins (Cucurbita sp.) grown in North Carolina are a nascent specialty crop that has only risen to a national production level in the past 10 years. There are only general cultural management guidelines for this region, resulting in variation in plant density and inefficient production. Production field studies of the cultivar Kratos were conducted to investigate the impact of plant density and row width on marketable yield and individual fruit size for large carving pumpkins. Plant densities of 2691, 3588, 5382, and 10,764 plants per hectare with row widths of 1.5 and 3.0 m were grown in 2020 and 2021 in North Carolina. Data regarding fruit size, fruit size variance, and yield per area were collected. Fruit size in terms of weight, length, and diameter increased as plant density decreased. There was no difference in fruit size variation between plant densities and row widths. The fruit number per hectare and fruit weight per hectare increased as plant density increased, with the highest production at 10,764 plants per hectare. For years combined, reducing the row width from 3.0 to 1.5 m increased the fruit weight and diameter, but not the length. Additionally, the 1.5-m row width produced more fruit weight per hectare than the 3.0-m row width for both years. Growers can optimize fruit weight per area and fruit number per area by using a density of 10,764 plants per hectare. Overall, using a row width distance that is more equidistant to the in-row spacing promotes higher fruit yield and larger fruit size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used seeds from five different summer pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars (Çağlayan, Mert Bey, Sena Hanım, TG22, and TG38) and seeds collected from fruits in ten different provinces in Turkey where winter pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) were cultivated. The seed coat and embryo were cultured and the seed-borne fungi were identified. Allophoma labilis and Didymella americana were detected in seeds (seed coat and embryo) of the cvs. Çağlayan and Mert Bey only, respectively. The seeds of both summer and winter pumpkins were contaminated with Alternaria alternata, Fusarium equiseti and Fusarium proliferatum, though their incidence varied depending on cultivar, province and seed parts. All species caused root and crown rot in seedlings in pathogenicity tests. Disease severities were caused by A. labilis, A. alternata, D. americana, F. equiseti and F. proliferatum at rates of 37.14–49.64%, 31.78%-42.50%, 31.29%, 14.17–50.00% and 25.14–51.07%, respectively. Colonial growth on different media, morphological and molecular characterization of the most pathogenic isolates from each species were defined. This is the first report in Turkey of A. labilis and D. americana in seeds of C. pepo, and Alternaria alternata, F. equiseti and F. proliferatum in seeds of both C. pepo and C. moschata, as well as the first pathogenicity record for these species by seed inoculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sufficient understanding about genetic composition of the traits associated with yield and quality helps crop breeders to design their breeding program. The goal of this study was to estimate the main genetic effects on fruit and seed traits from crosses involving hulled and hull-less seeded parents. The intraspecific [LGR-121/VSR-5921 (Cucurbita pepo)] and interspecific [HLP-36/PVR-1343 (C. pepo/C. moschata)] hybridization derived six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) were evaluated using generation mean analysis. Significant differences were observed among all six generations for the fruit (3) and seed (5) traits under study. The additive-dominance model assessed through scaling test revealed adequacy only for seed number in intraspecific cross while, seed thickness and 100 seed weight in interspecific cross. Non-allelic interactions with duplicate type of epistasis were observed for remaining traits. -- - It was observed -- that most of the fruit and seed traits in intra and interspecific crosses expressed epistatic effects. Hence, improvement for these traits requires breeding methods like recurrent selection that can exploit non-additive variation in subsequent generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkin, a member of the Cucurbitaceae plant family is an underutilized crop in Nigeria. This plant requires minimal agronomic input to produce optimal yield and it is drought tolerant. However, due to preservation, the fruit does not remain biochemically the same. What happens to squash stored for months after harvesting at room temperature needs to be examined from nutritional point of view. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of storage at ambient temperature and relative humidity on selected vitamins (A, C, and E), and the proximate (crude protein, crude fiber, crude ash, and carbohydrate) in the green and orange morphotypes of pumpkin fruit. Pumpkins harvested in 2015 were stored for 4 months (January to April) and nutritional parameters evaluated monthly using standard assays. The results showed that the vitamin A content did not change significantly (P<0.05) over the storage period and morphotypes while the vitamin C and vitamin E contents decreased by 15% and 18%, respectively, when comparing the 1st and 4th months of storage. Crude protein and fat content decreased significantly over the storage period. However, crude fiber and ash increased in storage time. Except for crude fiber, the two morphotypes behaved similarly over the storage period. Remarkably, vitamin A concentrations in squash did not change after harvest, and some of the nutrients studied were not significantly affected during the first 4 months of storage. This information is especially important for people in rural areas limited in modern ways of storing fruit vegetable after harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkin is usually cultivated in arid and semiarid regions, and the lack of water stress-tolerant cultivars is a major limiting factor. Therefore, this study was carried out to identify superior water stress-tolerant genotypes. For this purpose, 44 inbred lines with superior agronomic traits were selected from the gene pool. In addition, two hybrids (G1-Mert Bey F1 and G2-Sena Hanim F1) and two landraces (G3-Hatun Tırnağı and G4-Cercevelik) with high commercial value were used as commercial cultivars. The water stress indices were calculated from seed yields from the pumpkin genotypes grown in irrigated and water stress conditions in 2017 and 2018. The stress tolerance index (STI) determines tolerant and superior genotypes. From the principal component and cluster analyses' findings, G9, G40, G32, G36, G5, G11, G22, G30, G37, and G13 showed the highest water stress tolerance among the inbred lines. During future breeding experiments, these inbred lines may have significant potential for developing novel water stress-tolerant cultivars for pumpkin cultivation in semiarid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidant properties and phenolic acid content in the pulp of five pumpkin species were evaluated. The following species cultivated in Poland were included: Cucurbita maxima 'Bambino', Cucurbita pepo 'Kamo Kamo', Cucurbita moschata 'Butternut', Cucurbita ficifolia 'Chilacayote Squash', and Cucurbita argyrosperma 'Chinese Alphabet'. The content of polyphenolic compounds was determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with HPLC, while the total content of phenols and flavonoids and antioxidant properties were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Ten phenolic compounds (protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid, kaempferol) were identified. Phenolic acids were the most abundant compounds; the amount of syringic acid was found to be the highest, ranging from 0.44 (C. ficifolia) to 6.61 mg∙100 g−1 FW (C. moschata). Moreover, two flavonoids were detected: catechin and kaempferol. They were found at their highest level of content in C. moschata pulp (catechins: 0.31 mg∙100 g−1 FW; kaempferol: 0.06 mg∙100 g−1 FW), with the lowest amount detected in C. ficifolia (catechins: 0.15 mg∙100 g−1 FW; kaempferol below the limit of detection). Analysis of antioxidant potential showed significant differences depending on the species and the test used. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of C. maxima was 1.03 times higher than C. ficiofilia pulp and 11.60 times higher than C. pepo. In the case of the FRAP assay, the multiplicity of FRAP radical activity in C. maxima pulp was 4.65 times higher than C. Pepo pulp and only 1.08 times higher compared to C. ficifolia pulp. The study findings show the high health-promoting value of pumpkin pulp; however, the content of phenolic acids and antioxidant properties are species dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the genetic parameters of ten Cucurbita pepo L. hybrid cultivars, including seven foreign hybrid cultivars (F1 Shiraz, F1 Khaleej, F1 Samar, F1 Roham, F1 Daphne, F1 Asma and F1 Oto) and three domestic hybrid cultivars (F1 Peronesh, F1 BL and F1 CL) in the form of a randomized complete block design with 3 replications at the Pest Investigation Research Station and the Shahid Fozveh Research Station of Isfahan, central Iran, in 2019. The bed preparation operation was done and the seeds were sown in the mid-June. The results showed that the highest fruits/plant was observed in CL and Shiraz genotypes and the highest yield/plant in four harvests was observed in Peronesh genotype. Roham and Otto genotypes showed the lowest total yield/plant. BL genotype showed the highest mean fruit diameter in four harvests and the highest fruit weight of the seed sample. The highest seed weight was obtained in Shiraz and Asma genotypes and the highest seed-to-fruit weight ratio was obtained in Samar genotype. BL, Asma and Shiraz genotypes showed the highest seed dry weight. The highest seed length and the highest dry weight of 100 seeds were observed in Peronesh and BL genotypes. A positive and significant correlation was also observed between some traits. Among the investigated genotypes, Peronesh and BL genotypes outranked the other genotypes in most of the traits. Also, Shiraz genotype had a significant advantage in some seed traits compared to other genotypes. According to the presented results, different genotypes of the pumpkin plant were significantly different from each other in terms of various traits, indicating that the ground is prepared to employ these resources for improving the yield of this plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is a critical environmental stress that limits the productivity and sustainability of agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions by reducing the germination rate and delaying the start of germination and seedling establishment. There are various methods to increase the yield of agricultural plants, each of which somehow improves the yield of seeds in terms of germination indicators and seedling establishment. One of the most common methods to increase poor seed germination is priming before planting. To investigate the effects of priming on aspects of germination of aged pumpkin seeds under drought stress, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with four replications in the laboratory. Treatments that include seed aging (control, 85% and 75% of control germination), drought stress (0, -0.75 and -1.5 MPa), and priming (control, hydro, gibberellin, GR24, benzyl aminopurine and spermidine). The results of a mean comparison between drought stress, seed ageing and priming showed that the lowest germination percentage (GP) of pumpkin (43.6%), protein (0.82 mg.g-1Fw), radical length (RL, 9.24 mm), plumule length (PL, 1.19 mm), relative water content (RWC, 35.5%), carotenoid (1.253 mg.g-1Fw), catalase (CAT, 7.03 μmol.gmin-1.mgprotein-1), peroxidase (POX, 47.72 μmol.gmin-1.mgprotein-1) and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD, 53.48 mmol.gmin-1.mgprotein-1) were associated with drought treatment at -1.5 MPa and with 75% aging in the absence of priming. In addition, the lowest content of malone dialdehyde (MDA, 3.75 mmol.g-1Fw) and proline (1.573 μg.g-1Fw) were obtained from the absence of drought and aging with priming using spermidine. The highest GP (98.03%) and protein (9.54 mg.g-1Fw) were obtained from gibberellin treatment, RL (15.73 mm) and PL (4.26 mm) in priming using GR24 hormone, RWC (83.64%), carotenoid (6.277 mg.g-1Fw), CAT (40.44 μmol.gmin-1.mg protein-1), POX (95.71 μmol. gmin-1.mgprotein-1) and SOD activity (131.68 μmol.gmin-1.mg protein-1) in priming with spermidine with non-drought stress and aging conditions. The highest MDA (32.42 mmol.g-1Fw) and proline (0.55 μg.g-1Fw) were observed in drought conditions with an intensity of -1.5 MPa and 75% aging in the absence of priming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), of American origin, represents one of the most used species today. Mexico is an important center of origin, domestication and diversification of the genus Cucurbita. Pumpkin production in Mexico places it in sixth place. This crop has as main limitation for its production the incidence of different harmful organisms, where foliar diseases of fungal origin are the most important, where powdery mildew stands out with economic losses of 50 to 100 %. For proper management, an important element is the correct identification of the causal agent, since two different genera and species are associated with the disease. Worldwide, the identified species that infect the Cucurbitaceae family are Podosphaera fusca (Fr.) Braun &. Shishkoff (syn.: Sphaerotheca fusca (Fr), Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & Shishkoff) or Golovinomyces cichoracearum (DC.) V.P. Heluta. The control of the pathogen has been carried out mainly with the use of fungicides. However, its use causes negative effects on the biodiversity of agroecosystems, which can cause irreversible damage to the environment, increase production costs and enhance fungus resistance. Hence the importance of seeking new alternatives for its management, such as the use of oils, salts and biological control agents. This paper presents a review related to the updated identification of pumpkin powdery mildew, as well as trends in its management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hull-less seed trait is preferred by nut and oil industries worldwide for snacking and oil extraction as it evades the expensive decorticating (dehulling) process. This seed trait is available in C. pepo only, which has small seed cavity, sensitive to various biotic and abiotic stresses, and restricted to temperate regions for cultivation. Contrarily, the related species C. moschata has wider adaptability, disease tolerance and high seed yield. Therefore, attempt was made to transfer this trait into C. moschata through conventional pollination and ovule culture using four parents of hull-less C. pepo and six of hulled C. moschata. Through conventional approach, few viable F1 seeds (12–23) were obtained by using C. pepo as female parent, but in three crosses (HLP36 × HM1343, HLP36 × HM1022 and HLP44 × HM1022) only, whereas, its use as male parent was not successful. This incompatibility issue of reciprocals was resolved through ovule culture of C. moschata genotypes HM1343 and HM6711 after 17 to 19 days of pollination with C. pepo genotypes HLP53 and HLP72, respectively. The hybridity of interspecific crosses was confirmed through SSR markers (alleles inherited from both the parents), morphological characters and micromorphological leaf traits (differed from both the parents). The successful transfer through interspecific hybridization was further established with the presence of hull-less seed in fruits of F2 populations. Outcome of this study would pave the way for enhancing the productivity and multi-season cultivation of snack-seeded pumpkin even in subtropical and tropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensory quality and bioactive phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of gingerbread cake with the addition of different vegetables, which was separately prepared as studied samples. The research material consisted of three gingerbread banana cakes and various vegetable ingredients: pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.). Blended roasted pumpkin, blended roasted beetroots, and baked tomatoes were used in the experiment. The evaluation of sensory quality was conducted using the QDP (Quantitative Descriptive Profiling) method and a hedonic evaluation by consumers was also performed. In the experiment, colour parameters were measured in the CIE L*a*b* system, and the total polyphenol content and the total antioxidant capacity were established. The test results showed that a vegetable addition of a level of up to 25% of different vegetables such as pumpkin, tomato, and beetroot to gingerbread provides an adequate effect on the sensory quality of the product while still being acceptable to consumers. Moreover, it increases the functional properties of the finished product (p < 0.01). The gingerbread dough with the addition of tomato (25%) contained the highest amount of polyphenols −40 mg GAE/100 g, and the gingerbread dough with the pumpkin addition was characterized by the highest total antioxidant activity at a mean value of 0.475 μM TEAC/g of product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Preemergence (PRE) herbicides are an important part of the overall weed management plan in no-till (NT) pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) production. A field evaluation was conducted in an NT production system using PRE herbicides labeled for pumpkins to determine the benefits of specific herbicide combinations and the economic returns on investment associated with their use. The PRE herbicide treatments evaluated were 1) s-metolachlor (1360 g·ha–1 a.i.), 2) clomazone (350 g·ha–1 a.i.) and ethalfluralin premix (1120 g·ha–1 a.i.), 3) s-metolachlor + clomazone and ethalfluralin premix, 4) s-metolachlor + halosulfuron (35 g·ha–1 a.i.), 5) clomazone and ethalfluralin premix + halosulfuron, and 6) none. The primary weed species present were tall waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), giant foxtail (Setaria faberi), and large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis). The best weed control option for full-season broadleaf and grass weed control was s-metolachlor + clomazone and ethalfluralin. This herbicide combination also provided the greatest economic return on investment, ranging from a 20% to 40% improvement (depending on the year) compared with the next closest PRE herbicide treatment. Those with the lowest returns on investment were s-metolachlor combined with halosulfuron, and clomazone and ethalfluralin combined with halosulfuron. Besides providing the highest returns on investment, the PRE application of s-metolachlor with clomazone and ethalfluralin also produced the largest pumpkin fruit for the weed species present. Although growers often look for ways to reduce input costs in NT pumpkin production systems, the proper selection of PRE herbicides that considers the weed species present is clearly an important investment that improves pumpkin yields and revenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seeds are nutritious and valued as a source of vegetable oil, protein, healthy fatty acids, and minerals. Pumpkin seeds that are naturally devoid of the seedcoat (hull-less) are preferred by the industry as they eliminate the need for de-hulling prior to use. A single recessive gene, designated as n or h, controls the hull-less seed trait in pumpkin. Visual selection for the trait is easy, however, it is resource intensive when applied to large breeding populations. High throughput genotyping assays can aid in the identification of suitable individuals in segregating populations through marker-assisted selection. In the current study, the QTL-seq approach was used to identify genetic loci, SNP markers and candidate genes associated with the hull-less trait in a segregating F2 population (n = 143) derived from a cross between Kakai (hull-less) × Table Gold Acorn (hulled). The segregation of the hull-less trait in the F2 population fit a 3:1 ratio (p < 0.05). QTL-seq analysis detected a single QTL on chromosome 12 (Qtlhull-less-C12) which was significantly associated with the hull-less trait in C. pepo. Twenty-eight SNPs were genotyped in the population, two among which (Ch12_3412046 and Ch12_3417142) were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with the hull-less trait in cultivars and accessions of diverse genetic background. Several candidate genes fall within the Qtlhull-less-C12 interval, among them is the No Apical meristem (NAC) domain-containing protein and a Fiber Protein fb11 gene involved in lignin accumulation and cell wall deposition across plant species, respectively. The findings of this study will facilitate the marker-assisted selection for the hull-less seed trait in pumpkin and further our understanding of the functional mechanisms underlying the trait across cucurbit crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, pumpkin seeds peptide was purified, characterized, and evaluated for their zinc‐chelating capability, as well as in vitro bioaccessibility and transportation. Raw pumpkin seeds protein hydrolysate (PSPH) was produced by papain hydrolysis. The peptide fractions with the highest zinc‐chelating abilities were purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) followed by gel filtration chromatography (GF). Eight peptides were identified, two of which with the lowest molecular weights were synthesized (RPKHPLK and RPKHPLSHDL) for determining potential bioaccessibility and bioavailability. Our results showed that the gastrointestinal stability of RPKHPLK‐Zn and RPKHPLSHDL‐Zn was higher than that of inorganic zinc salts in the simulated gastrointestinal tract model. Furthermore, the influence of the peptide zinc chelates on zinc transport was explored in vitro using Caco‐2 cell monolayer model. It was also shown that both RPKHPLK‐Zn and RPKHPLSHDL‐Zn could increase zinc transport rate and may be used to facilitate effective zinc absorption. The result of this study may provide important implications for developing plant protein foods with higher nutritional value. Practical Application: As a potential alternative protein source, pumpkin seeds may find promising applications in plant‐based foods and drinks to meet the growing market for nonanimal foods. In this study, pumpkin seed protein peptides were prepared and purified, and the zinc‐chelating peptides were identified and evaluated for the abilities to promote the uptake of zinc. This type of mineral peptide chelates could be incorporated into plant‐based foods to increase mineral contents, which is significantly higher in foods originated from animals. The result of our study may provide important information for food industry to increase the nutritional value of plant‐based foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant genetic resources constitute the most valuable assets of countries. It is of great importance to determine the genetic variation among these resources and to use the data in breeding studies. To determine the genetic diversity among genotypes of Cucurbita pepo L. species of pumpkin, which is widely grown in Erzincan, 29 different pumpkin genotypes collected were examined based on the morphological parameters and molecular characteristics. SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) markers were used to determine genetic diversity at the molecular level. The analysis of morphological characterization within genotypes showed a wide variability in morphological traits of plant, flower, fruit, and leaf. In the evaluation performed using SSR markers, all primers exhibited polymorphism rate of %100. Seven SSR markers yielded a total of 15 polymorphic bands, the number of alleles per marker ranged from 2 to 3, and the mean number of alleles was 2.14. Polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.06 (GMT-M61) to 0.247 (GMT-P41), and the mean PIC value per marker was 0.152. Cluster analysis using Nei's genetic distance determined that 29 genotypes were divided into 4 major groups. The present findings have revealed the genetic diversity among pumpkin genotypes collected from Erzincan province and may form the basis for further breeding studies in pumpkin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of sustainable slow-release mineral fertilizer systems from agricultural wastes are of great significance. Struvite-K (MgKPO4·6H2O), a struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) analogue, has received much attention in recent years due to its low water-solubility and fertilizing properties, which offer important environmental and economic benefits in agriculture. Use of slow-release organic fertilizers greatly improves availability of nutrients by agricultural crops and minimize fertilizer losses and the risks associated with contamination of the environment. This study reports development of a slow-release fertilizer system consisting of chitosan, oleic acid and struvite-K crystals. In the study chitosan, a biodegradable polysaccharide polymer, was used to encapsulate oleic acid-coated struvite-K crystals derived from pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) pulp waste. The capsules were characterized using FT-IR, SEM and SEM–EDX analyses. K release profiles of the synthesized capsules were tested in acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions. The K release rate of oleic acid-treated capsules was 4% at the end of the 10th day. Chitosan-oleic acid-struvite-K capsules can be tested as slow-release mineral fertilizer in sustainable agriculture activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was planned to evaluate Eggless Muffins value added with germinated pumpkin seed flour. The recipe was value added by replacing the refined wheat flour with 10, 20 and 30 per cent of germinated pumpkin seed flour. The value addition resulted in a significant (P<0.05) increase in ash, crude fat, crude protein and crude fiber while total carbohydrates decreased. The value added product had crude protein ranging from 12.57-19.27g; crude fibre 1.74-2.88 g and ash 4.50-7.10 g/100 g. Significant increase was observed in mineral content. The value added products had calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium and phosphorus ranging from 37.42-69.50, 55.59-57.47, 2.45-5.63, 4.57-9.45, 245.63-489.56 and 126.45-139.45mg/100 g, respectively, on dry matter basis. The developed products were acceptable to judges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During present investigation burfi was prepared from different combinations of cow milk khoa and pumpkin pulp [viz., 100:00 (T1), 75:25 (T2), 70:30 (T3), 65:35 (T4) and 60:40 (T5)] and the samples were subjected to sensory evaluation, chemical analysis and cost was computed considering the ingredients and processing costs. The pumpkin pulp (as per treatments) and sugar (30% by weight of khoa) were mixed with khoa at different stage of khoa preparation. Then, the mixture was heated till burfi was obtained. Methods: For preparation of burfi fresh cow milk was obtained from Livestock Instructional Farm, Akola. The milk was standardized to 4.0 per cent fat and 9.0 per cent SNF for the preparation of burfi. The khoa blended with pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) pulp at different ratios, the product without using pumpkin pulp served as control. The burfi was analyzed for chemical composition (viz., fat protein, total sugars, ash and total solids). The organoleptic attributes of burfi were analyzed in terms of its flavor, body and texture and color and appearance, wherein the total score was out of 100; the judging panel comprised on 5 members. Result: The total sensory scores of burfi obtained were 87.81, 90.46, 95.46, 92.99 and 84.30 for the treatment T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The burfi prepared from various combinations involving use of up to 70 per cent cow milk khoa in blend with pumpkin pulp was found acceptable. The fat content of burfi's was 19.61, 15.40, 14.38, 13.40 and 12.37 per cent, protein content was 14.89, 12.64, 12.11, 11.61 and 11.04 per cent, total sugar content was 32.78, 36.73, 37.59, 38.45 and 39.31 per cent, ash content was 2.69, 2.55, 2.53, 2.49 and 2.45 per cent, total solids content was 69.94, 67.30, 66.60, 65.94 and 65.17 per cent for the treatment T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The fat, protein, ash and total solids of burfi tended to decrease while total sugar and moisture content tended to increase with an increase in the level of pumpkin pulp used as additive. The per kg cost of production of pumpkin based burfi decreased with increasing level of incorporation of pumpkin pulp in burfi formulation i.e. 240 (100:00 khoa), 204.51 (75:25, khoa: pulp), 199.11 (70:30 khoa: pulp), 194.33 (65:35 khoa: pulp), 189.25 (60:40, khoa : pulp) for the treatment T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The most acceptable burfi i.e. T3 was computed to be priced at 199.11 per kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doubled haploid method via parthenogenesis induction still remained prominent in Cucurbitaceae breeding due to drastic reduction in time and cost of newly released lines. In this study, different doses of Gamma ray (25, 50, 75, 100, and 200 Gy) were used to irradiate pollen grains for induction of parthenogenetic haploid embryos in oilseed pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. 'Styriaca'). Parthenogenetic embryos at different developmental stages were rescued in vitro and 348 plants were obtained, of which 134 were recognized as haploid by ploidy analysis. The highest rate of haploid plants was obtained from globular (25.3%) and torpedo (23.8% plants) embryos followed by arrow-tip (13.4%), torpedo (10.5%), stick (10.5%), heart (9%), and cotyledonary (7.5%), respectively. All doses, except 200 Gy, were effective for induction of embryos and haploid plants; in a way that the highest number of haploids was obtained by 100 Gy. Our results indicated that parthenogenetic haploid embryos could be efficiently induced in C. pepo if proper Gamma ray dose and developmental stage of embryos are selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to evaluate effectiveness of a rainwater harvesting technique with polyethylene film covered ridges (RHCR) on pumpkin seed production under rain-fed conditions in Kayseri/Turkey. For this purpose, a two-year experiment, of which were consisted three covered ridge widths (R1= 0.5, R2= 0.7, and R3= 0.9 m) and a control treatment, was conducted. The experimental design was completely randomized plots in blocks with three replications. Significantly higher seed yields were obtained from R2 and R3 (202 and 208 kg ha-1) in first year and from R2 (660 kg ha-1) in second year. Although excessive drought conditions were experienced during pumpkin growing period in those years, especially R2 treatment resulted significantly higher yield. Higher plant density in R1 and lower density in R3 negatively affected seed yield especially in water scarce second year. In second year, leaf area, mean fruit weight, fruit yield, seed yield and 1000-seed weight were found higher than ones in first year because of application of nitrogen a whole at sowing. We concluded that RHCR with optimum plant density and proper covered ridge wide, and application whole nitrogen at sowing under rain-fed conditions are effective ways to obtain higher pumpkin production in semiarid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdery mildew is one of the most destructive diseases and the major cause to the production losses of cucurbit worldwide. A number of strategies have been developed and applied to discover suitable and safer methods to manage the occurrence of powdery mildew disease in pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo L.), but information is limited in screening tolerant germplasms and exploring their mechanisms in preventing the disease occurrence at physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. Therefore, we investigated the responses of two commercial pumpkin cultivars to Podosphaera xanthii infection. Compared with mock-inoculated seedlings, few small and sparse powdery areas were observed on the leaves of the Sixing F1 cultivar on the 13th day after inoculation with P. xanthii , whereas a large number of diseased powdery areas and a layer of white powdery mildew were observed on the surface of Jin12 F1 leaves. The inoculation duration (7, 9, 11, and 13 days) significantly and continuously increased the disease incidence and index of pumpkin seedlings. The contents of H2O2, MDA, lignin, and total phenolics in the leaves of Sixing F1 and Jin12 F1 cultivars were markedly increased after inoculation with P. xanthii. However, the Sixing F1 cultivar exhibited much less reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, a lower rate of lipid peroxidation, and a higher level of lignin and total phenolics contents after inoculation than the Jin12 F1 cultivar. Compared with untreated control pumpkin seedlings, significantly higher activities and gene expressions of the phenylpropanoids pathway enzymes (PAL and PPO), ROS scavenging defense enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD, and APX), and other salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway marker genes were observed in the leaves of both cultivars after P. xanthii inoculation at different inoculation time points. These enhancements were significantly higher in Sixing F1 than Jin12 F1. Our results indicate that the Sixing F1 cultivar exhibited a much stronger ability in resistance to P. xanthii infection than the Jin12 F1 cultivar. Our results suggest that one possible mechanism of C. pepo cultivars to prevent the pathogen P. xanthii infection is by activating and enhancing the activity and gene expression of the phenylpropanoids pathway to synthesize phenolic substances and lignin, ROS scavenging defense enzymes to eliminate the harmful effects of ROS, and signaling pathway marker gene expression to improve plant disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, it was shown that long-term plant breeding does not only shape plant characteristics but also impacts plant-associated microbiota substantially. This requires a microbiome-integrative breeding approach, which was not yet shown. Here we investigate this for the Styrian oil pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. subsp. pepo var. styriaca Greb.) by analyzing the microbiome of six genotypes (the complete pedigree of a three-way cross-hybrid, consisting of three inbred lines and one open pollinating cultivar) in the seed and rhizosphere as well as the progeny seeds. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencing targeting the 16S rRNA and the ITS1 genes, the bacterial and fungal microbiomes were accessed. Seeds were found to generally carry a significantly lower microbial diversity compared to the rhizosphere and soil as well as a different microbial composition, with an especially high fraction of Enterobacteriaceae (40–83%). Additionally, potential plant-beneficial bacterial taxa, including Bacillaceae , Burkholderiaceae , and Pseudomonadaceae , were found to be enriched in progeny seeds. Between genotypes, more substantial changes can be observed for seed microbiomes compared to the rhizosphere. Moreover, rhizosphere communities were assembled for the most part from soil. Interestingly, bacterial signatures are mainly linked from seed to seed, while fungal communities are shaped by the soil and rhizosphere. Our findings provide a deep look into the rhizosphere and seed microbiome assembly of pumpkin-associated communities and represent the first steps into microbiome-driven breeding for plant-beneficial microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the impact of laser light (L), magnetic stimulation (p) and silver nanocolloid (AgNC) on pumpkin seeds on the germination rate and content of photosynthetic pigments as well as the efficiency of photosynthesis and greenness index in the plant's development stages. Seeds germinated after the use of various combinations of different refining techniques. The best results were observed for the alternating magnetic field, where the germination energy increased significantly by 20% relative to the control. A similar effect was observed in terms of germination capacity which increased by 4%. A decrease in terms of emergence rate was observed in all study groups. Leaves grown from seeds soaked in nanocolloidal silver on platters were characterised by a significantly higher content of chlorophyll a and b by, respectively, 53 and 11%, as well as 79% higher carotenoid content. The leaves of potted plants contained 42 and 43% more chlorophyll a in groups p and AgNC. In addition, 66 and 81% more carotenoids in groups L and p. At the stage of the onset of flowering of pumpkin, an improvement in terms of photosynthetic efficiency and greenness index was observed in all study groups. The highest improvement was recorded for seeds soaked in silver and reached 23% (intensity of photosynthesis) and 11% (greenness index SPAD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) showed to be an excellent source of nutrients for the probiotic growth reaching around 1010 CFU/ml in just 24 hr. Growth kinetics of the culture was followed during juice fermentation and the Gompertz model was fitted to the data. Approximately 9.6 g/L lactic acid was produced lowering the pH from 6.5 to 3.6 at the end of fermentation. The culture mostly utilized glucose while the fructose was consumed to lesser extent. The survivability test showed that the culture will remain above 106 CFU/ml during 13 days of refrigerated storage. Sensory evaluation of the fermented pumpkin juice mixed with other juices showed high acceptance. The principal component analysis revealed three components responsible for the largest portion of the variability within pumpkin juice sensory descriptors. Consensus configuration analysis showed the highest agreement of sweetness, fruity and pleasant smell with samples to which blubbery and fruit juice mix were added. Practical applications: This study represents an original contribution in the field of nondairy probiotic beverages. The research is a comprehensive approach to product development using thorough statistical analysis of data. This is the first time to our knowledge that L. casei 431 is used to ferment vegetable juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although knowledge of the microstructure of food of vegetal origin helps us to understand the behavior of food materials, the variability in the microstructural elements complicates this analysis. In this regard, the construction of learning models that represent the actual microstructures of the tissue is important to extract relevant information and advance in the comprehension of such behavior. Consequently, the objective of this research is to compare two machine learning techniques—Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Radial Basis Neural Networks (RBNN)—when used to enhance its microstructural analysis. Two main contributions can be highlighted from this research. First, a method is proposed to automatically analyze the microstructural elements of vegetal tissue; and second, a comparison was conducted to select a classifier to discriminate between tissue structures. For the comparison, a database of microstructural elements images was obtained from pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) micrographs. Two classifiers were implemented using CNN and RBNN, and statistical performance metrics were computed using a 5-fold cross-validation scheme. This process was repeated one hundred times with a random selection of images in each repetition. The comparison showed that the classifiers based on CNN produced a better fit, obtaining F1–score average of 89.42% in front of 83.83% for RBNN. In this study, the performance of classifiers based on CNN was significantly higher compared to those based on RBNN in the discrimination of microstructural elements of vegetable foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of diet supplemented with raw and roasted pumpkin seeds on some key biochemical parameters relevant to erectile function in corpus cavernosal tissues of male rats. Rats were fed with basal diets (NC), diet supplemented with raw (5% and 10%) and roasted (5% and 10%) pumpkin seeds for the evaluation of adenosine deaminase (ADA), phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE–5), arginase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, including nitric oxide level and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Diet supplemented with roasted pumpkin seeds showed better PDE–5, ADA, arginase activities, as well as NO and MDA levels. No significant difference was observed in AChE activities of rats treated with raw and roasted pumpkin seeds. The modulatory effects of raw and roasted pumpkin seeds on enzymes associated with erectile dysfunction suggest the biochemical rationale for its therapeutic role in enhancing erectile function. However, roasted pumpkin seeds (10%, w/w of diet) possess more beneficial effects than the raw seeds. Practical Applications: Pumpkin is a nutritious vegetable used in folklore for the treatment of bladder, prostate, and kidney diseases. The seeds are known to contain phenolic compounds which exert different health benefits. Processing of foods has been shown to either improve the quality or reduce the bioactive components which affect its functionality. In this study, roasting improved the biochemical parameters associated with erectile function in male rats. Roasted pumpkin seeds also reduced the oxidative stress parameters in rats' penile tissues when compared to raw pumpkin seeds. This study revealed that thermal processing associated with roasting could improve the antioxidant activity of pumpkin seeds and crucial enzymes related to erectile function. Hence, consumption of roasted pumpkin seeds could be more beneficial compared to raw pumpkin seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to fresh and roasted pumpkin seeds used in human nutrition, they are used as an additive to bread, salami, sausage, mayonnaise and many food products because of their high protein content. The most common problem encountered in the cultivation of confectionary pumpkin is the lack of varieties with good seed yield and quality in the market. In this study, it was aimed to reveal the promising hybrids with superior characteristics by determining the yield and seed characteristics of the 13 pumpkin inbred lines (Cucurita pepo) and 74 hybrid lines which are obtained by crossing between inbred lines and two local varieties (3-Hatun Tirnagi and 4-Cercevelik) as control. As a result of the study, the highest positive correlation was found between seed thickness and 1000 seed weight and between seed length and seed width. The crosses of 31x34, 23x28, 13x23, 38x40, 29x37, 30x31 and 23x29, especially 40x29, in the positive region of both components showed superior performance compared to their parents in all parameters. These hybrids have emerged as promising crosses to develop the F1 hybrid confectionary pumpkin varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucurbita pepo contains a wealth of genetic variability in fruit size, shape, and color. A common fruit color pattern in C. pepo is striping of the fruits. Stripes occur on the fruit exterior in accordance with the positions of the 10 main subepidermal vein tracts, and can be normal, with darker stripes occurring between and lighter stripes over and adjacent to the vein tracts, or reversed, with lighter stripes occurring between and darker stripes over and adjacent to the vein tracts. Reverse striping has been reported as being independent and at other times dependent on the presence of the dominant allele for dark stem color, D. The objective of this investigation was to determine the relationship, if any, between the two types of reverse striping, dark-stem-dependent and independent. For this purpose, two accessions, which when crossed produced progeny having dark-stem-dependent reverse striping, were crossed with seven near-isogenic tester accessions of known genotype. The results indicated that the two types of reverse striping are conferred by different alleles at the same locus, which is also the same locus at which other alleles confer normal striping. The results of crossing among the nine accessions suggest that two genes reported as having major effects on fruit color, l-2 and W, are actually the same locus (or two tightly linked loci). To minimize possible confusion, it is suggested that this multiple-allelic locus be hereafter referred to as l-2. This locus has seven alleles, of which the two top dominants, L-2WS and L-2W, and the bottom recessive, l-2, confer the exact same fruit phenotype, weak coloration. Two intermediate alleles, L-2 and L-2i, result in intense fruit coloration and normal striping, and two other intermediate alleles, L-2Wr and l-2R, respectively, confer dark-stem-dependent and independent reverse striping. The order of dominance of the seven alleles is L-2WS > L-2W > L-2Wr > L-2 > L-2i > l-2R > l-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkins are sweet and rich in ß-Carotene. They are valuable sources of functional components but underutilised despite having potential as industrial crop. Poor postharvest handling contributed to wastage during bumper. Valueadded products with appreciable keeping quality could be produced from pumpkin. Pumpkins were cleaned, cut and peeled. The seeds were scrapped off and flesh cut into uniform sizes. Samples were blanched in hot water at 95°C for 1 minute, drained and cooled to room temperature. They were then dried using three different methods. The samples were ground using laboratory mill and sieved using 125-micron mesh and evaluated for proximate composition, functional properties, microbial and sensory qualities. Proximate analysis results showed relatively low moisture content across all methods. The moisture content of samples ranged from 4.690±0.410 to 85.42±1.66 with cabinet dryer having the least moisture. Cabinet dried sample had the highest protein, crude fibre, ash and ß carotene compared to others. The results indicated that increase in drying temperature are accompanied by decreases in water solubility, water and oil absorption capacities of the samples. Tent and sun-dried samples had better functional properties. Results of microbial analyses revealed low bacterial and fungal counts with fresh and cabinet dried samples recording no fungal growth. Results of sensory evaluation of pumpkin soup prepared with fresh sample as control revealed cabinet dried sample had good sensory quality in terms of colour, taste, flavour and acceptability. Quality pumpkin powder with good sensory qualities that could be utilised for culinary purposes could be produced using cabinet dryer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]