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Gilbertsville PA

Does seed shape mean anything ? Some seeds out of my 595 lber were tear dropped shaped & some were round shaped .The 595 came from an 1157 werner & I crossed it with a 986 checkon. I hope this is not a stupid question .
thanks Mike McQ

11/17/2004 7:41:28 PM

[email protected]

Not stupid. But hard to define.

I know what you mean. As a rule some fruit exhibit seeds with an easily recognizable shape, color, etc. Their continuity makes it possible for experienced growers (not me! LOL) to identify seeds.

This year I've also seen seeds from the same pumpkin that were both long & thin as well as some wider rounder ones.

It is curious to ponder whether these physical appearance difference of the seeds will corelate to other geneticlt determined differences in the plants they produce.

I don't know the answer either.

11/18/2004 8:43:15 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

I have noticed a difference in the seeds I got out of my pumpkins this season. I plan on starting the smallest seed and the largest seed in the same spot and see which one earns the right to grow in that plot. I also have a couple seeds that sank when I was washing them, so I thought I would try a sinker and a floater in another plot and see which one earned that spot as well. Has anyone tried this before? I will let them grow in the patch until they reach the 3' mark and then decide.

Phil

11/19/2004 6:40:00 AM

Gilbertsville PA

Thanks and good luck in 05.
Mike

11/20/2004 8:37:40 AM

Long Island,New York

Having had a problem with a seed trade this past year I've taken particular interest in seed shapes and sizes within a given fruit. My conclusion , based upon review of 9 fruit is.....although seeds from two different fruit may appear to be obviously different, I was able to take at least 20 percent of the seeds from one fruit of similar "looks" and compare them to 20% of similar seeds from another fruit and not be able to tell which came from which. The seeds withina fruit range widely in size and shape, stay in a tight range for color (but color changes with age and dryness remember), and some are thick and some are thin.A fruit with many seeds with high ridges along the sides doesn't neccessarily have all seeds with ridges....nor humps.White tips may be predominant withing the fruit, but my 935x865's had many solid seeds also.Drying cracks are common in any fruits and seems to be both genetic and dryness influenced. The conclusion is.....the original grower of the seeds may have some insight as to whether the seeds look "real" or not, but don't bet the farm (or hang the trader)if they "look fake" according to the grower.

11/20/2004 9:11:18 AM

Long Island,New York

ps...I even had one seed in my pkn that was missing the hard brown layer we associate with the tan seeds on ONE SIDE ONLY.......so when spread out on a sheet showing the white side it looked a bit odd....no reason to think a totally white seed in a fruit with 822 tan seeds cant happen now.....

11/20/2004 9:13:13 AM

Long Island,New York

So....what do we do?. We prepare for the rare criminal act of an unscrupulous trader or youngin who hasn't quite caught on to the way we do things. Trade with people you know and trust.Get seed from growers themselves.Keep chain of command notes and require them for every trade you do. Keep trading to a realistic minimum if possible. Do NOT send pictures or descriptions of seeds through public forums so criminals can see what they want to see. Keep track of what seeds you send where(and when).The criminals are few and far between.....and this may be an over anxious post, but it does happen and your name is only as good as your reputation...heres quite a few new people here without positive influences lately....a sign of things to come?(then leave me out)...............G

11/20/2004 9:20:34 AM