University of FloridaSolutions for Your Life

Download PDF 
Publication #Cir 1440

New Plants for Florida: Tropical Pumpkin1

Don Maynard2

Click here to view the print version.

Tropical pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne), also known as calabaza, calabash, auyama, ayote, or zapallo, is a species of pumpkin that is grown throughout the tropics and subtropics. Tropical pumpkins are a valuable source of dietary carotenoids that have a major role in nutrition as provitamin A and antioxidants. Carotenoid concentrations in tropical pumpkin compare favorably with those in butternut squash.

Currently, open-pollinated varieties developed by Don Maynard in Florida, Puerto Rico, or farmer-selected landraces are used by growers. Farmer-saved seed is generally used because commercially produced seed is not readily available. As a result, genetic contamination is exacerbated in this already diverse crop. Growers use varieties or derived selections from La Primera, developed by R. B. Volin and introduced by the FAES; La Segunda, also developed by Volin but not formally introduced; and Soler, selected in Puerto Rico by L. Wessel-Beaver but not formally introduced. These varieties are traditional long-vine types.

Current research objectives are to develop hybrid tropical pumpkins with a compact plant habit, uniform fruit size and desirable fruit quality. Hybrid seed provides a profit incentive based on exclusivity, encouraging a commercially available seed supply. A compact plant habit permits higher plant populations, easier cultivation, and a more concentrated maturity, which facilitates production. Two hybrids that differ in maturity, plant habit and flesh color have been developed from this program: El Dorado and La Estrella.

Tables

Table 1. 

Tropical Pumpkin: Variety releases.

Variety

Date of Release
La Primera

1979

El Dorado, La Estrella

2002

Footnotes

1.

This document is part of Circular 1440, a publication of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Agronomy Department and IFAS Communication Services, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date August 2003. Reviewed February 2009. Originally published as a booklet by IFAS Communication Services June 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Don Maynard, Professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, Gulf Coast REC--Bradenton, FL. Circular 1440 is edited by Richard L. Jones, Mary L. Duryea, and Berry J. Treat, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Richard L. Jones, Dean for Research, publishes this information to further programs and related activities, available to all persons regardless of race, color, age, sex, disability or national origin. Information about alternate formats is available from IFAS Communication Services, University of Florida, PO Box 110810, Gainesville, FL 32611-0810.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.