Search

This study evaluated the quantitative and qualitative traits of 13 local summer squash populations. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with 3 replications for two years (2019 to 2020). The following traits were considered in this study: number, weight, length, width, and length/width ratio of fruits, seed yield, seed yield/fruit yield ratio, 1000 seeds weight, percentage of empty seeds, seed length, seed width, seed kernel/whole seed ratio, and seed oil percent. Also, quality tests were conducted including ease of separation of skin from the kernel, taste quality, and desirability of seed shape and size from the consumer's point of view. The analysis of variance showed significant differences in most of the studied traits. Based on the results of the mean comparison of traits, the highest seed yield was observed in Ghalami- Kalaleh#1 and Mashhady-Azadshahr and then Mashhady-Khoy populations. The highest taste quality from the consumer point of view belonged to the Goushti-Kalaleh population. The results represent a positive and highly significant correlation between seed yield and fruit number. No significant correlation was observed between seed yield and other related traits. It is recommended that fruit number trait be considered in selecting programs and modifying high-yielding populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the proximal and mineral composition analysis of of castilla squash seeds (C. moschata), green pea (P. sativum) and pinto saltillo green bean (P. vulgaris). Design/methodology/approach: The contents of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, crude fiber, protein, and ash) and micronutrients (minerals) of the evaluated species were determined using the AOAC standard procedures, and the quantification of minerals was performed by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. A variance analysis and means comparison were performed with Tukey’s test (α=0.05). Results: The squash seeds with shells contain 291,500 ppm of protein, 417,000 ppm of fat, 66,700 ppm of carbohydrates, 134,000 ppm of crude fiber, 972,319.678 ppm of phosphorus, 3,380.09158 ppm of potassium and 3,183.2744 ppm of magnesium. The whole pea pod has 230,600 ppm of protein, 17,200 ppm of fat, 456,000 ppm of carbohydrates, 220,800 ppm of crude fiber, 5,438.18,991 ppm of phosphorus, 7,349.23753 ppm of potassium and 1,719.56882 ppm of magnesium. The whole green bean pods had a content of protein (185100 ppm), fat (2540 ppm), carbohydrates (377500 ppm), fiber (208000 ppm), phosphorus (6068.44661 ppm), potassium (15626.9991 ppm) and magnesium (17222.16567 ppm). Study limitations/implications: Studies on the chemical characteristics of other agroindustrial residues should be carried out. Findings/conclusions: The foods analyzed have adequate characteristics to satisfy the demands with respect to some macronutrients and micronutrients. They can optimize the availability of nutrients in the generation of natural or synthetic foods that can change the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian squash (Praecitrullus fistulosus) crop faces heat and drought during its growth that is considered the most important abiotic stress in semi-arid areas. Seed priming with growth regulators enhances stress tolerance; hence, mitigates the adverse effects of unpredictable stresses due to adverse weather conditions. This two-year (2019 and 2020) study was conducted to infer the role of seed priming in improving heat tolerance of Indian squash (cultivar Sahavi) through improvement in physiological and antioxidant defense systems. Six treatments that included no priming (control), hydropriming, priming with indole acetic acid (IAA) at 100 mg L-1, salicylic acid (SA) at 50 mg L-1, ascorbic acid (AA) at 100 mg L-1 and thiourea at 500 mg L-1 each for 06 hours) were included in the study. Results revealed that priming with AA and SA significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced germination (39 and 47%), germination index (57 and 58%), plant height (23 and 22%), vine length (15 and 14%), number of fruits per plant (62%), fruit weight per plant (66 and 67%), economic yield (32%), photosynthesis rate (18 and 17%), protein content (10%), proline (23%), glycine betaine (3%), malondialdehyde content (11 and 10%) and catalase activity (24%) compared to control treatment. Furthermore, seed priming with AA and SA significantly (P ≤ 0.05) shortened the mean germination time (25 and 28%) compared to the control. The results indicated that AA and SA had significant potential to mitigate adverse effects of heat stress in Indian squash. Findings from this study showed that seed priming with AA and SA promoted heat-stress tolerance and enhanced growth and productivity of Indian squash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) is one of the most commonly cultivated crops in Turkey. In recent years, with the decrease in rainfall and the increase in irrigation costs, there has been an increased interest in edible seed squash cultivation in Turkey, since it can be grown well in arid environments. Virus diseases are the most common problem limiting edible seed squash cultivation in Turkey. During 2017–2019, 625 symptomatic edible seed squash leaves were collected from the fields for detection of pathogenic viruses, including watermelon mosaic potyvirus (WMV), Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV), cucurbit aphid-borne yellows polerovirus (CABYV), squash mosaic comovirus (SqMV), cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), and papaya ringspot potyvirus watermelon strain (PRSV-W) using DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR methods. The calculated relative incidence of viruses infecting plant samples was found to be 88.32%. WMV, ZYMV, and CABYV were identified as the most prevalent viruses with the relative incidences of 56.96, 56, and 20.16%, respectively. CMV (1.12%), PRSV-W (0.48%), and SqMV (0.32%) were the least commonly detected viruses in samples. The 24 selected isolates of CMV (2), WMV (12), ZYMV (6), and CABYV (4) were sequenced and deposited in the GenBank database. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Turkish isolates of these viruses belong to the same clusters in phylogenetic trees and generally showed high similarities to the isolates of neighboring countries. Moreover, except for the CABYV isolates, the sequence diversity among the isolates was generally very low. It is thought that the knowledge gained from observations of this study will be useful to beneficiaries as it provides a basis for further research into the breeding programs of squash varieties resistant to virus diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Urinary incontinence (UI) is common in women, with up to 50 % experiencing involuntary loss of urine at some point. Femaxeen®, a formulation containing purified and specific cytoplasmic extracts of pollen, pumpkin seed extract and vitamin E (referred to hereafter as Femaxeen), is indicated for control of UI in women. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of Femaxeen for the prevention and treatment of UI symptoms in women.Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 81 women with moderate, severe, or very severe urge (43.4 %), stress (31.6 %) or mixed (25.0 %) UI were allocated to receive Femaxeen or placebo once daily for 90 days. Treatment efficacy was assessed using three validated questionnaires.Findings: Thirty-eight patients per group were analyzed. Femaxeen produced statistically significant improvements from baseline to Day 90 (p < 0.001 for all comparisons) in scores on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), Measurement of Urinary Handicap (MHU) questionnaire, and Sandvik Incontinence Severity Index. Reduction from baseline in ICIQ-SF and MHU scores at Day 60 and Day 90 was significantly greater with Femaxeen than placebo (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Femaxeen significantly reduced ICIQ-SF and MHU scores from baseline to Day 60 and Day 90 in all UI types (p < 0.05 for all comparisons except ICIQ-SF scores for stress UI). Femaxeen and placebo were well tolerated. Associated adverse events were few and mild in intensity.Conclusions: Femaxeen is effective for treating UI, and has a safety profile comparable to that of placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae family) consist of 119 genera and 825 species and are cultivated worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. In the world, squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb) Matsum&Nakai), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and melon (C. melo L.) are the most cultivated cucurbit species as vegetable crops. Squash is grown for fresh consuming, as well as its seeds are used like a snack in Turkey. Viruses are one of the most destructive pathogen groups on squash which is grown for seeds in Yozgat province. In this study, it was aimed to determine the virus infections in economically important squash planting fields in the province. Totally 140 plant samples which show widespread virus symptoms such as mottling, shoe-string, mosaic, stunting, curling, vine decline, distortion, and blistering were collected from plants in 2017. In this study, DAS-ELISA method is used for identifying the virus infections on the plant samples. According to the results of the DAS-ELISA 84.28 % of plant samples were infected with Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), Watermelon mosaic potyvirus (WMV), Papaya ring spot potyvirus-watermelon strain (PRSV-W), Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV), and Squash mosaic comovirus (SqMV). The prevalent virus was WMV with the ratio of 57.85 %. It was followed by ZYMV which was detected on the samples at the ratio of 53.57 %. Besides, double and multiple virus infections were determined commonly in the samples. Especially, ZYMV+WMV mixed infections were common. The infection of Cucumber green mottle mosaic tobamovirus (CGMMV) wasn't determined in the survey area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Journal of Agricultural Sciences (YYU J Agr Sci) is the property of Yuzuncu Yil University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Diabetes mellitus occurs due to either deficiency of insulin or resistance to insulin. Synthetic drugs and insulin therapy against diabetes possess numerous drawbacks. Diabetic people are advised to choose low-glycemic food and herbal products to control diabetes. This study aims to examine the synergistic effects of aqueous root Salep ofGymnadenia orchidis Lindl and pumpkin seed powder on Streptozotocin induced diabetic mice.Methods: Out of 6 groups, animals in 2 groups were kept as control and rest 4 groups were made diabetic by Streptozotocin. Animals in one diabetic group were supplemented with effective dose (200 mg/kg of body weight) of root Salep, one with pumpkin seed powder (5%) mixed food, and another with Salep and pumpkin seed food. Changes in various biochemical parameters, DNA damage and liver and kidney structures were noted after 21 days treatment.Results: Salep with pumpkin seed supplementation significantly normalized the alterations of different biochemical parameters of diabetic mice. The DNA damage in blood cells of diabetic mice was recovered by this supplementation. Terpenoids of root Salep and anti-oxidants of pumpkin seed may play the active role against diabetes.Conclusion: The root Salep and pumpkin seed synergistically prevent diabetic complications and could be better supplementation against type-2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to nutritionally assess pulps and seeds of Cucurbita mixta and Cucurbita maxima. Cucurbita mixta and Cucurbita maxima fruits were processed into pulps and seeds. Dietary samples consisted of (A) Basal, (B) maizeand Cucurbita mixta seed, (C) maize and Cucurbita mixta pulp, (D) maize and Cucurbita maxima seed, and (E) maize and Cucurbita maxima pulp. Thirty (30) albino rats were then reweighed and grouped into five groups of six each. The formulated complimentary foods and water were fed to experimental animals for 28 days ad libitum. The result showed that growth rate A (non protein diet) increased slightly from 53.00 to 61.30, diet B from 56.76 to 100.79, diet C from 54.20 to 87.03, diet D from 54.66 to 87.33 and diet E from 54.30 to 73.33g respectively. The average nitrogen content retained in the various organs of the experimental animals such as liver, kidney and muscle of the diets A,B,C,D and E were 45.48, 86.30, 72.80, 78.34, 65.48: 46.30, 88.56, 70.34, 78.40, 69.45.: 45.56, 85.84, 70.45, 76.50, 65.38g/100g respectively. Complimentary diet containing Cucurbita mixta seed was found superior in terms of growth rate and ensured optimum nitrogen content in the animal organs. Others followed the order: Cucurbita maxima seed, Cucurbita mixta pulp and Cucurbita maxima pulp respectively. It is thus concluded that calorieobtained from the inclusion of Cucurbita mixta and Cucurbita maxima seeds and pulps diets result in nutrient composition of complimentary foods and may be suitable to provide calorie value for sustenance, met recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and sufficient to eradicate protein energy malnutrition (PEM) in the developing Countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reference 1 Qamar R, Khan S, Safdar ME, Atique-ur-Rehman, Rehman A, Javeed HMR, et al. (2022) Seed priming with growth regulators modulates production, physiology and antioxidant defense of Indian squash ( I Praecitrullus fistulosus i ) under semi-arid conditions. The I PLOS ONE i Editors retract this article [[1]] because it was identified as one of a series of submissions for which we have concerns about authorship, competing interests, and peer review. [Extracted from the article]

Viral diseases are very destructive especially on squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) which is grown for seeds in Karaman province. In this study, it's aimed to determine the virus infections in major cucurbit growing areas of Karaman province. Totally 135 plant samples which showed the most common virus symptoms like mosaic, curling, blistering, mottling, distortion, shoestring, stunting and vine decline were collected from squash, zucchini, melon, watermelon, cucumber and pumpkin plants during 2009 and 2010 years. The viruses were identified by DAS-ELISA. The results showed that 83 % of plant samples were infected with Zucchini yellow mosaic Potyvirus (ZYMV), Watermelon mosaic Potyvirus-2 (WMV-2), Cucumber mosaic Cucumovirus (CMV), Papaya ringspot Potyvirus-watermelon strain (PRSV-W) and Squash mosaic Comovirus (SqMV). ZYMV was the most prevalent virus in the infected cucurbit plants with the ratio of 53.4 % and occurred in squash, pumpkin, watermelon, melon and cucumber samples. WMV-2 was detected in squash (50 %), melon (43.1 %), cucumber (12.1 %) and watermelon (5.2 %). Also mixed infections were observed in squash, melon and cucumber more frequently than others. Cucumber green mottle mosaic Tobamovirus (CGMMV) was not present in the research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter squash and pumpkins are two of the most important Cucurbit vegetable crops in Turkey. in this study, variation in seed phenotypes in 160 populations of Cucurbita maxima, collected from different regions of Turkey, was determined. The present collection showed appreciable genotypic variation in seed shape, colour, brightness, seed dimensions, and seed weight. Seeds displaying a wide elliptic shape (62.5%) were the most common in the collection. most populations displayed a cream seed colour (46.9%), followed by white (25.6%), brown (20.0%), and tawny (7.5%). This study demonstrated that substantial differences in seed dimensions exist in Turkish winter squash populations. Seed length ranged from 15.0 to 25.7 mm, 7.6-15.5 mm for seed width, and 1.4-6.1 mm for seed thickness. For seed length to thickness ratio and seed width to thickness ratio, populations showed a range of 3.2-14.2 and 2.2-8.5, respectively. Data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA). PCA revealed that the first two PC axes explained 67.0% of the total multivariate variation. This evaluation of seed trait variability can assist geneticists and breeders to identify the populations with unique characteristics for inclusion in future breeding activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]