Naked-seeded pumpkin project

[Zeedman]

Yes, the project will be continuing this year, with the seed selected from last year's grow out. The results last year were actually better than anticipated, which was very encouraging. We could always use another participant, and the project has tasty fringe benefits. Seed will go out later this Spring.

 

[flowerbug]

Yes, the project will be continuing this year, with the seed selected from last year's grow out. The results last year were actually better than anticipated, which was very encouraging. We could always use another participant, and the project has tasty fringe benefits. Seed will go out later this Spring.

do you have a picture of what you are looking for?

 

[Zeedman]

do you have a picture of what you are looking for?

This is the original breeder's page; scroll down to "Little Greenseed" - the photo is the desired phenotype:
LIseed pumpkins

As quoted from the website, the developer was unable to stabilize the variety:

Little Greenseed" will show some diversity which makes it ideal as a source for your own breeding projects.

The website has been idle for a long time, and apparently the breeder gave up on it. The project is to eliminate that diversity (which was considerable) and stabilize the variety as the 2-3 pound, naked-seeded, all-orange pumpkin.

 

[meadow]

On a different page, 2007 write-up about The Long Island Seed Project, they mention:

Stability? There were a few fruit that had less green or less plump seed. Pumpkin size is usually less than a pound but we have had some 2-3 pounders. We leave it up to you to refine it according to your preferences.

They also announce that it was commercially available from another company. Going to that other company's site, it appears that they lost track of where they'd obtained the seed (and the photo showed a very poor representation of Little Greenseed, as I recall, but the page is not there now). This is from my notes:

It came to us named “Little Greenseed” but we cannot verify the sources, so are simply calling it a naked seeded pumpkin moving forward as we continue to regenerate seeds and select. *These lines are still segregating out and many contain some off types. We did experience 5% of our seed containing hulls. These seeds are also beloved by grain moths so please take care to keep these seeds well protected.

I'm suspicioning that a decline may have occurred while under the care of the commercial source.

In any case, there is someone else working from Little Greenseed stock (from Experimental Farm Network):

The story of this pumpkin begins with Ken Ettlinger of the Long Island Seed Project (LISP). It represents the power of maturing an interbreeding mix or grex of many diverse cultivars of the same species. Ken had spent years collecting all the naked-seeded types he could find, mass crossing, and selecting new forms. From that work, he created two separate populations — one which represented the best of that mix and another called ‘Little Green Seed’ which was developed from a fine flavored disease-resistant pumpkin called ‘Baby Pam’. A fellow market farmer friend and seed saver named Holly Dumont of central California had requested seed of both populations. Over the next two seasons, she interbred both and selected her favorites. It was from this grex that Chris then spent three more seasons intensively improving the pumpkin for a number of desirable traits.

The result is ‘Emerald Naked Seeded’ — a new variety that out-yields most on the market, including ‘Styrian Hulless’ and ‘Lady Godiva’. Besides selecting plants that have a high yield of hulless seed pumpkins, selection has been made for fruits that have the highest seed to fruit weight ratio, plump seeds, and in which the seeds are easy to harvest from the cavity. Fruits with an attractive visual appearance have been preferred so that the grower knows when their fruits are mature. Finally, since sprouting in storage is a known problem with naked seeded pumpkin cultivars, efforts have been made to cull this trait by storing stock fruit for at least two months. This population still has a mix of bush and vine types.

 

[flowerbug]

This is the original breeder's page; scroll down to "Little Greenseed" - the photo is the desired phenotype:
LIseed pumpkins

As quoted from the website, the developer was unable to stabilize the variety:


The website has been idle for a long time, and apparently the breeder gave up on it. The project is to eliminate that diversity (which was considerable) and stabilize the variety as the 2-3 pound, naked-seeded, all-orange pumpkin.

ok, thanks! no, i never saw anything that was that color and size. i'll plant the remaining seeds i have from what you sent me last year this season and hope that i'll get at least one plant/fruit with the right seeds you're after.

i'm guessing that since none of the fruits i took seeds from had the right traits if i keep planting those i'm not too likely to get what you wanted, but i'll keep them for now and see what happens.

 

[flowerbug]

On a different page, 2007 write-up about The Long Island Seed Project, they mention:

thanks for this! it looks like if anyone can source Emerald Naked Seeded then you've gone several years later in the project without having to duplicate that kind of effort.

 

[Jack Holloway]

In any case, there is someone else working from Little Greenseed stock (from Experimental Farm Network):

That reminded me @meadow that I bought these seeds. Twenty seeds, they say had a 100% germination rate. Some of the seeds don't look too great. I'll grow a couple of these seperately and hand pollinate them. Next year I should have some to share. I'll try to take a picture of the seeds.

 

[meadow]

That reminded me @meadow that I bought these seeds. Twenty seeds, they say had a 100% germination rate. Some of the seeds don't look too great. I'll grow a couple of these seperately and hand pollinate them. Next year I should have some to share. I'll try to take a picture of the seeds.

Interesting. My packet contained 18 seeds and was labeled "botanical sample: not germination tested" even though the site shows the germination rate at 100%. My seeds do not look anything like the ones in their photo. I didn't think to take a picture before vacuum-sealing and sticking them in the freezer.

 

[Zeedman]

On a different page, 2007 write-up about The Long Island Seed Project, they mention:


They also announce that it was commercially available from another company. Going to that other company's site, it appears that they lost track of where they'd obtained the seed (and the photo showed a very poor representation of Little Greenseed, as I recall, but the page is not there now). This is from my notes:



I'm suspicioning that a decline may have occurred while under the care of the commercial source.

In any case, there is someone else working from Little Greenseed stock (from Experimental Farm Network):

Thank you for that reference, @meadow . I knew someone had continued working with the original Little Greenseed line, but my link to that effort (from several years ago) had expired. I was unaware of the release of Emerald Naked Seeded. I found it interesting that Holly Dumont was involved, I knew her casually on another forum (and through SSE) and had exchanged seed with her.

It appears that Emerald Naked Seeded was selected for many of the same traits I am seeking. However, based upon the photos & descriptions, they appear to have arrived at a slightly different result... and apparently still unstable. Everyone selling the seed appears to be charging a lot, for a relatively small amount of seed (Ken originally sent me almost 100 seeds).

IMO this parallel breeding project is still worthwhile - and who knows, we could end up with a better Northern-adapted cultivar. The results of this years 2nd generation grow out - if it shows improvement - should demonstrate whether my goals of a fully-stable variety are realistically attainable. If not... well, at least we'll get a lot of pumpkin seeds to eat.

 

[Jack Holloway]

@Zeedman I agree with you. It is worth while continuing this project. Here are two pictures of the seeds I took today. Not sure which is better, one taken outside in the sun, one inside near a window.

I should add, I'm not in Canada, obvious from my loacation, but I thought the old Canadian pennies were more interesting than the US ones. Wish the 1927 one on the left showed up better.

@meadow Sorry, didn't think to take a picture of the back of the pack. It does say there 18 seeds, but I counted 20. Doesn't say "botanical sample: not germination tested".