2007 Pumpkin Variety Evaluations

INTRODUCTION
Pumpkins continue to be an important crop to Pennsylvania growers. Nationally, Pennsylvania consistently ranks at or near the top of states in acreage for production of fresh market pumpkins. Varity trials continue to be regularly conducted in the state to evaluate new varieties, especially those tolerant or resistant to powdery mildew (PM). This is a report on trials conducted in PA in 2007.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sixteen varieties of small pumpkins (<9 lbs), 14 varieties of medium pumpkins (9-24 lbs.) and 22 varieties of large pumpkins (25+ lbs) were grown in Lancaster, Centre and Montgomery Counties, PA in 2007. The pumpkins were grown using the no-till system and trickle irrigation in Lancaster and on bare soil without irrigation in Centre and Montgomery. Spacing of the plants was as follows: small - 2 ft in row X 8 ft between rows, medium - 4 ft in row X 8 ft between rows and large - 8 ft X 8 ft. Plants were direct seeded on June 8 in Lancaster and June 14 in Montgomery and transplants were set June 6 in Centre. Admire was applied through the drip system post-planting in Lancaster at the labeled rate. Recommended fertility, weed control and disease and insect control practices were used. There were three 6 plant replicates per variety at Lancaster and Centre and two 20 ft. replicates per variety at Montgomery (plant number per replicate varied with fruit size). Pumpkins were harvested and weighed on September 25 and 28 in Lancaster, September 21 in Centre and September 24 in Montgomery.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The 2007 growing season was hot and dry and except for powdery mildew, disease pressure was low. Overall yields and fruit quality were the best in many years of trialing at Lancaster. Pumpkin fruit losses to rot were very low. Yields are only reported from Lancaster as the other locations suffered from drought stress since they were not irrigated.

Packer had the highest estimated yields in the small group (Table 1) but fruit size was actually medium and the handles and color were poor (Table 3). 6866 had the next highest estimated yield in the small varieties but the handles tended to be a little soft. Pure Gold was third highest in yield with good fruit appearance but this variety has performed poorly in cool, wet seasons. Hybrid Pam is another variety that performed well this year but has done poorly in cool, wet seasons. 8404 and 8412 yielded well but this was the first season varieties from Outstanding Seed were trialed and additional trials are necessary to determine the consistency of yield on these selections. Ironman and Cannonball, both hard shell types, yielded well and have been consistent over multiple trials.

Tom Fox had the highest yields in the medium group but there was only one replication. This variety had variable fruit shape and would not be good for wholesale growers looking for uniform fruit. Harvest Ace was the next highest in yields but fruit size was large for this group (perhaps Harvest Gold planted in this plot by accident). Magic Lantern and Magician both had good yields but fruit size was small for this grouping in terms of market needs. Progress looked promising but fruit size was too small for this size group. RPX 1626 and 6877 had good estimated yields but poor color. Charisma and Scarecrow both did well but in past cool and wet seasons had lower yields.

Aladdin had the highest estimated yields among the large varieties (Table 2). Mr. Wrinkles was second highest but the handles were a little small for the fruit size and fruit qualities were somewhat variable (Table 4). Magic Wand had good a good yield and appearance but this was the first season in trial. Gold Medal has been a consistent performer in Lancaster trials. Summit had soft handles while Spartan had good yields in this first year in trial. Superior was a very attractive pumpkin but yields were on the lower side for this group. Conestoga Special had the largest average fruit size but the handles were small in proportion to fruit size. Phatso had the second largest average fruit size and good handles. Fat Albert was third in average fruit size but was variable in fruit weight, appearance and handle quality.

Several small and medium varieties from Outstanding Seeds had the lowest mildew infection ratings at both Lancaster and Centre Counties (Table 5). The mini-pumpkins also had low ratings as in previous seasons. Mystic Plus, one of the first varieties with mildew tolerance, had intermediate mildew infection ratings. Hybrid Pam and Snackjack had the highest mildew ratings. Even varieties with high mildew ratings on the lower leaf surface at Lancaster had low upper leaf surface infection ratings. This indicates both good coverage of the upper leaf surface by fungicides as well as the importance of scouting the undersides of leaves for the first signs of powdery mildew in a pumpkin planting.

Magic Lantern, another early variety with mildew tolerance, had intermediate mildew infection ratings at Lancaster and Montgomery among the medium varieties. 6899, Progress and Magician had the lowest mildew ratings on the undersides of the leaves. Yields of Magic Lantern and Magician were similar indicating that mildew resistance does not necessarily mean higher yields. However, mildew resistant varieties tend to have higher fruit quality at harvest because of a lower incidence of poor stem quality from mildew infections.

Gladiator had the lowest mildew infection ratings on the lower leaf in the large varieties followed by Superior and Warlock (Table 6). HMX 6685 is a hard shell type and the handles tended to be a little small. Magic Wand, Spartan and Summit were the next lowest in terms of lower leaf mildew infection ratings. Aladdin and RPX 1295 had lower infection ratings at Centre and Montgomery than Lancaster.

Table 1: Yield and seed source for 34 varieties of small and medium pumpkins grown in Lancaster County, PA in 2007. Click on variety name to view image.

*One replicate

Table 2: Yield and seed source for 25 varieties of large pumpkins grown in Lancaster County, PA in 2007. Click on variety name to view image.

*One replicate
^Two replicates

Table 3: Fruit quality ratings for 34 varieties of small and medium pumpkins grown in Lancaster County, PA in 2007. Texture is rated on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being very smooth and 5 being heavily ribbed. Handles are rated 1-5 with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. Click on variety name to view image.

*One replicate

Table 4: Fruit quality ratings for 25 varieties of large pumpkins grown in Lancaster County, PA in 2007. Texture is rated on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being very smooth and 5 being heavily ribbed. Handles are rated 1-5 with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. Click on variety name to view image.

*One replicate
^Two replicates

Table 5: Powdery mildew infection ratings for 34 varieties of small and medium pumpkins grown in Lancaster, Centre and Montgomery Counties, PA in 2007. Click on variety name to view image.