Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 4:36-37 (article 19) 1981
Seed Increase of Mexican Cucurbita Collection
C.J.A. Laborde
Unit of Genetic Resources - INIA, Apartado
Postal 112, Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico
During 1981 we will take field notes, evaluate for breeding
purposes and have seed increase of the Cucurbita collected
in Mexico during 1979 by Drs. Knight and Whitaker (161 accessions)
(1).
In some other crops like peppers, tomatoes, beans, etc.,
and according with the International Board of Plant Genetic
Resources, our field notes are based on the "List of
Descriptors" that have been suggested by the IBPGR.
A common computer program is already available.
We are planning to do the same for Cucurbita,
but the proper "descriptors" are still lacking.
If someone is already working on it, please let me know
because if this is not the case, I feel we are in a proper
time for starting it. Meanwhile, I will appreciate suggestions
about the field notes that you are taking in evaluating
your introductions. Besides the regular ones on breeding
(e.g. disease and insect resistance), please include some
others pertinent to taxonomy and botany that could be referred
later on to studies related with evolution.
If anyone interested in taking a look at this collection,
or sharing some of the seeds, contact me in early June to
let you know the best time for a field visit. The collection
will be planted at our Agricultural Experiment Station at
Bajio, near Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Literature Cited
- Whitaker, Thomas W. and Robert J. Knight, Jr. 1980.
Collecting Cultivated and Wild Cucurbits in Mexico. Econ.
Botany. 34: 312-319.
