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= __**PUMPKIN REPRODUCTION AND POLLINATION**__ =

__**General Development of a Pumpkin:**__ media type="youtube" key="q5b90tspJCo" height="344" width="425"

-Comes from a family of plants called cucurbits (or the gourd family). -Grows in fields on plants. -Has long sprawling vines. -Seeds are planted in the ground last week of May to middle of June, however, competitive pumpkin growers may plant their seeds as early as April. -Will sprout in 7 to 10 days (needs moisture and warmth). -First leaves, or seed leaves will appear. -Next, the true leaves appear. -True leaves are the second set of leaves that come off out of the seedling and actually look like pumpkin leaves. The first set of leaves (which aren't true leaves) are called cotlydons and are usually featureless leaves that eventually dry out. -Root network develops in the top 12 inches of soil as leaves develop. -Roots gather food, moisture, and air for growth. -Strong tap root develops as deep as 3 feet. -Tendrils develop along vines to working as anchors. -Yellow flowers, or blossoms begin to appear after 3 weeks. -Male blossoms are seen first, produce pollen (sit on long thing stems and are plentiful). -A week later, female blossoms bloom (have tiny pumpkins at bases and sit closer to the vine). -Bees transfer pollen from males to females (pollination). -Once pollinated, fruit at base of female develops into a full-sized pumpkin. -The plant continues to produce blossoms. -Pumpkin contains seeds which can be saved for next year. -They are picked in October when bright orange. -Some pumpkins as they grow, will develop thick skin depending on what season they are grown in. -When giant pumpkins grow they have 2 main vines, one goes out to the front and stretches about 30 feet, the other vine grows in the back and stretches for about 12 feet. -Giant pumpkins can gain about 30 pounds or even greater numbers everyday. __**Pumpkin Pollination:**__ - **Pollination**: The process when plant pollen is transferred from the male reproductive organs to the female reproductive organs to form seeds. In plants with flowers, pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma by the wind or by bugs. In coniferous plants, males release pollen that is carried by wind to the females. media type="youtube" key="_rrYCGo6l0M" height="344" width="425" - the best time to pollinate the pumpkin is in early to mid July (when a flower has been produced). - male flowers are produced first so that when the females are produced they are ready to pollinate (mature). - pumpkin plant produces female flowers, which contain ovules (eggs) - male flowers are also produced which produce pollen - this type of life cycle in pumpkins is an angiosperm life cycle - the pumpkin can be either be self pollinated or cross pollinated - After several days after being pollinated, the female flowers will die and fall off, leaving a baby fruit (pumpkin). - However if no pollination occurred then the baby pumpkin and female flower will shrivel and die =[ - Some pollinators include honey bees, and cucumber beetles - If pesticides are used then pollination is decreased -Along with nature the grower can control pollination (hand pollination):
 * When the pumpkin is self pollinated there is is no mixing of genes because the combination of genes came from the same plant, the disadvantage of this is if the original plant dies then then other off-spring that were produced from that pumpkin will also die because there was no variation in the genes
 * In cross pollination the female part of the plant is pollinated by a male from a different plant which results in the mixing of genes and therefore the pumpkin has different variations in it
 * · Time the pollination when the female flower has opened its bud.
 * · If one of the flowers is not ready to be pollinated then tie the flower together to prevent insects from doing the pollination.
 * · Select a male flower and pull off the petals to expose the stamen.
 * · Using the stamen of the male flower, gently rub the pollen onto the stigma (female flower).



__**What Effects Fruit Development?**__ - A variety of things can end up damaging pumpkins or making them grow better including: -Natural disasters are play key roles in the success of pumpkins. For instance, no matter what the grower tries to do, a hail storm is almost impossible to not leave a mess behind. Hail put dents in the fruit, but that does not do any harm to the growth. However, the vines and leaves of pumpkins end up split or pierced. This makes the farmer do even more maintenance in order to grow a giant pumpkin.
 * Market timing
 * Variety size
 * Timing of pollination
 * Irrigation
 * the pumpkin needs a lot of water but be sure not to over water the plant
 * Fertility
 * Spacing
 * *one pumpkin needs a 20x20 foot area
 * Weather and heat
 * *to protect the pumpkin from heat and rain along with other weather conditions build a tent around the pumpkin which will prevent the fruit from being harmed
 * Number of pumpkins growing around it
 * *If more than one pumpkin is growing on a vine than the fruit has to share its nutrients with the other fruits on the vine and in that case the pumpkin will not grow as large

-The genetics of a pumpkin ensure the size, color, shape, health, etc. of a pumpkin. - Seeds are given their DNA or genes by its sperm and egg combining from the pumpkin flowers. The outcome of the pumkin reflects the outcome of its parent. The smaller the pumpkin the seed comes from the less a chance of a bigger pumpkin coming from that seed. Genetics is confusing with the talk of cross, self pollination, and hand pollination. Insuring good genetics comes from:
 * __Ensuring Good Genetics__**
 * A good seed that came from a pumpkin that grew in similar conditions
 * Fertile soil
 * Good weather

__**Caring For The Fruit**__ -The fruit should be handled as little as possible, so the vine won't break or risk the chance of a cracked pumpkin. -In order to prevent rotting a board should be placed under the pumpkin when it is still small. -Adjust the pumpkin only if necessary so that the vine growers properly. - Sunlight can damage the fruit so to block the sun most growers find it effective to place a blanket or tarp on top. The pumpkin with split if it is not protected. - In order to protect the plant from bugs like the cucumber beetle, squash vine borer and the squash bug use a general pesticide, like sevin to keep the bugs away

__** GERMINATION, NUTRITION & IDEAL GROWING CONDITIONS **__

The process of a dormant seed initiating growth. An example of this is when the seed begins to sprout. Germination is the growth of an embryonic plant contained within a seed; it results in the formation of the seedling. Before germination the seed is dormant and protected by the seed coat from moisture and cold weather. The first sign of germination is the absorption of a large amount of water. This activates an enzyme (Gibberellin), respiration increases, and plant cells are duplicated. Soon the embryo becomes too large for the shell, the seed coat bursts open, and the growing plant emerges. The tip of the root is the first thing to emerge and it's first for good reason. It will anchor the seed in place, and allow the embryo to absorb water and nutrients from the surrounding soil.
 * __Definition:__**


 * __Requirements:__**
 * **Water**- to help break the seed coat. Dry seeds must take in significant amounts of water, relative to the seeds dry weight before cellular metabolism and growth can resume.
 * **Oxygen**- for aerobic respiration, the main source of the seedling's energy until it grows leaves.
 * **Temperature**- varies seed to seed and affects cellular metabolic and growth rates. Different seeds germinate over a wide range of temperatures, with many preferring temperatures slightly higher than room-temperature while others germinate just above freezing and others responding to alternation in temperature between warm to cool.
 * **Light or Darkness**- can be a type of environmental trigger for germination in seeds and is a type of physiological dormancy.
 * __Nutrition for a Seed:__**
 * Make sure the seed is not overwatered. This will cause the plant to lose oxygen.
 * While watering, use fertilization to add extra nutrients to the soil. This will help the pumpkin grow.
 * Use a fish-byproduct solution to further add nutrients to the growing pumpkin seedling.
 * If the pumpkin does not aquire the right nutrients from germination, this could cause a lack of effeciency in its growth.

__**Thesentials for successful germination are:**__ > media type="youtube" key="O6LghJzLbhU" height="344" width="425"media type="youtube" key="q5b90tspJCo" height="344" width="425"media type="youtube" key="ckUDbA9u1t0" height="344" width="425"media type="youtube" key="UyzZEy5bOpM" height="344" width="425" > It is essential to also soak the seed in water the day before planting it in a pot. The water would > soften the seed coat so that the root can grow out.
 * **Soil**- A good, seed starting mixture that is light and sterilized. The ideal PH of the soil would be between 6.0 and 6.5.
 * **Water**- The soil should be moist, but not soaked (preferably with warm water)
 * **Warmth**- The best seed starting temperatures are between 80 and 90 degrees farenheight.
 * **Sunlight** - Make sure the planted seeds recieve a good amount of sunlight
 * Different plants have seeds that require distinctive variables for successful germination. Often this depends on the individual seed variety and is closely linked to the ecological conditions of the plants' natural habitat. For some seeds, future germination responses are affected by environmental conditions during seed formation; most often these responses are types of seed dormancy.

- Live seeds can be dormant until an internal and/or external source triggers the seed to grow - PGRs like gibberellin and abscisic acid can effect dormancy -Abscistic acid: Keeps the seed dormant, stops the seed from germinating -Gibberellin: Starts the process of Germination
 * __Dormancy:__**
 * Some seeds are never truly dormant and all they need is some moisture to get their biochemistry activated and temperature warm enough to allow the chemistry of life to proceed. Despite this, most wild seeds have deeper forms of dormancy. **

1. When a seed is exposed to the proper conditions, water and oxygen are taken in through the seed coat. 2. The embryo's cells start to enlarge and the seed coat splits. 3. Then the seed coat breaks open and a root or radicle emerges first, followed by the shoot or plumule that contains the leaves and stem. 4. The shoot gradually grows vertically while the main root grows downwards. 5. Leaves grow at the top of the shoot and roots develope more. []
 * __Process:__**

In gardening and agriculture, the rate of germination is the number of seeds of a specific plant species, variety, or particular seedlot that is likely to germinate. This is usually expressed as a percentage, for instance, an 85% germination rate indicates that about 85 out of 100 seeds will most likely germinate under proper germination conditions. Germination rate is useful in calculating seed requirements for a given area or desired number of healthy plants.
 * __Germination Rate:__**


 * __Detriments to Successful Germination:__**
 * - Over-watering deprives the plant of oxygen. **
 * -Planting seeds too deep in the soil causes them to use all of their stored energy to attempt to reach the top before actually reaching the soil surface. **
 * -Dry conditions deprive the seed of enough moisture to start the germination process and keep it going. **
 * -Some seed coats are so hard that water and oxygen cannot get through. **
 * -Other seeds need to be exposed to proper temperatures in order for proper germination to occur. **

__**Recommended step-by-step instructions to maximize healthy germination for giant pumpkin growers:**__
** 1. File the edges of the pumpkin seed lightly with a nail file. File all edges except the pointed end. This allows moisture into the seed easier. Most significantly, filing your seeds makes it easier for the leaves to emerge from the shell without damage. The shells of giant pumpkin seeds are very thick, and the leaves sometimes have difficulty splitting open the shell. ** **2. Soak the seed in warm water for an hour or two. ** **3. Fill six inch peat pots with soil. ** **4. Plant the seed in the pot, 1"-2" deep, placing the seed either on it's side, or with the pointed end down. ** **5. Water thoroughly. ** **6. Provide the bottom warmth for the seed. ** **7. Once the plant has sprouted, stop the bottom heat as it can harm the roots. ** ** 8. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now the wait begins! In four to six days the seedling will emerge from the soil. Note that total time may vary, but it is usually a week to ten days. If they have not sprouted after ten days, start a second planting. **

__** Ideal Conditions For Giant Pumpkin Growth **__

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__**Soil**__ - <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well composted manure is a great adjustment to the soil, cow manure is one of the better manures because the cow processes it's food more efficiently. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ash from fireplaces is a good source of potassium save spreading until the season <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fish entrails and emulsions are great fertilizers for any plants as they contain lots of nutrients <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seaweed is rich in a number of minerals, including nitrogen. It also is a great mulch <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Egg shells are a good source of calcium. Crush them and mix them in the mulch you apply. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PH should be between 6.0 and 6.5

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**__Sunlight__** - <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Be sure that your pumpkin is exposed to a lot of sunlight and is kept around the 85 degree range in degrees Fahrenheit

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__**Water**__ - <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Make sure that the pumpkin is almost always slightly moist. Be sure not to use too much water.

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 * Videos about giant pumpkins and growing conditions**


 * Pictures of pumpkins/ process of growth**

= __ PUMPKIN AND BASIC SEED STRUCTURE __ =

= __Basic Seed Structure__ = The majority of seeds have three parts: 1. an embryo 2. a supply of nutrients (endosperm) 3. a seed coat

The embryo is referred to as an immature plant that will grow under certain conditions. It also contains either one cotyledon, two cotyledon, or more. The endosperm came from the parent through double fertilization. It usually is rich in protein, oil, or starch. The seed coat comes from the tissue surrounding the ovule. The purpose of the seed coat is to keep the seed from drying out or to keep from harm.

Seed coat-helps protect embryo from injury and harm Endosperm-temporary food supply surrounding embryo Cotyledons- "seed leaves", are the first visible leaves, help to classify plant Monocot- one cotyledon (example: Grass) Dicot- two cotyledon (example: most plants)


 * **Endosperm:** Food storage tissue, triploid (3n), result of double fertilization, 2/3 of the genome is of maternal origin.
 * **Testa (seed coat):** Outer protective layer of the seed, developed from the integuments of the ovule, diploid maternal tissue.
 * **Fruits** are mature, ripened ovaries containing seeds. The **pericarp ("fruit coat"**) is diploid maternal tissue.
 * **Perisperm:** Diploid maternal food storage tissue originates from the nucellus. Only in some species, e.g. //Beta vulgaris, Piper nigrum, Coffea arabica//, many Caryophyllales.
 * **Endospermic seeds:** The endosperm is present in the mature seed and serves as food storage organ. Testa and endosperm are the two covering layers of the embryo. The amount of endosperm in mature seeds is highly species-dependent and varies from an abundant endosperm layer (//Nicotiana tabaccum//) to a single layer (//Arabidopsis thaliana//).


 * Non-endospermic seeds: The cotyledons serve as sole food storage organs as in the case of pea (//Pisum sativum//). During embryo development the cotyledons absorb the food reserves from the endosperm. The endosperm is almost degraded in the mature seed and the embryo is enclosed by the testa.


 * [[image:http://www.seedbiology.de/images/rustica.gif width="280" height="251"]] ||
 * [[image:http://www.seedbiology.de/images/rustica.gif width="280" height="251"]] ||

Plant Structure: Andrew

The root system of plants including pumpkins holds the plant in the ground, and gets water and nutrients for the plant to live. Pummpkins have very big roots because they require so much water to live. This is because a pumpkin fruit is about 80% water.
 * The Root System**
 * Underground (usually)
 * Anchor the plant in the soil
 * Absorb water and nutrients
 * Conduct water and nutrients
 * Food Storage

The stem and all of the plants sstems that are above ground have the importnat functions of extracting energy from sunlight in our atmosphere, and photosynthesizing the light-energy. The stem also serves as a place for the fruit to grow and be supported.
 * The Shoot System**
 * Above ground (usually)
 * Elevates the plant above the soil
 * Many functions including:
 * photosynthesis
 * reproduction & dispersal
 * food and water conduction

Plant Cells:

Xylem: > > Tracheids- long, slender cells connected to each other by pits. Found in all vascular plants > Vessels - shorter, larger diameter cells with completely perforated cell wall ends. Found only in Angiosperms > > > > Phloem:
 * Thick secondary cell walls, often deposited unevenly in a coil-like pattern so that they may stretch
 * Dead at functionally maturity.
 * Involved in conduct of water and ions in the plant -
 * Involved in transport of sucrose, other organic compounds, and some ions
 * Living at functional maturity
 * Protoplast may lack organelles and nucleus, though
 * Endwalls connect to each other via sieve-plates
 * Two types of cells in the phloem - sieve-tube members and companion cells
 * Sieve-tube members - actual conduit for sucrose transport
 * Companion cells - has a nucleus that may also control the sieve-tube element and may aid in sucrose loading

= **Taxonomy and Plant Classification: Specific: Giant Pumpkins**  = By Marissa Bodner, Hannah Mendoza, Corbin Walsh, and Kyle Peterson

= = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZkxwpXyDjA

**taxonomy**, can be defined as the classification of orgasms into different categories based on their physical characteristics


 * bionomial nomenclature:** the scientific system of naming, where each species is given two names, one indicating the genus and the other indicating the species itself.

The leading naturalists of the 18th and 19th centuries spent their lives recognizing and naming newly revealed plants and animals.

Few of them asked what are the reasons for the patterns of similarities and differences between the organisms. Most naturalists two centuries ago held the view that plants and animals (including humans) had been created in their current form and that they have remained in the same form.

**Taxonomy : Carolus Linnaeus**
In 1735, Carolus Linnaeus published a book titled //Systema Naturae// classifying all known and yet to be discovered organisms due to the greater or lesser level of their similarities. This system of classification was accepted by the early 19th century and is still the basic blueprint for all taxonomy in the biological sciences at this point in time. The Linnaean system uses two Latin name categories including: **genus** and **species**, to classify each type of organism. A genus is a higher level category that has one or more species beneath it

Carolus Linnaeus^


 * |||| genus |||| genus ||
 * species || species || species || species ||  ||

Linnaeus also created more broad comprehensive classification categories. For example: he placed all monkeys and apes along with humans into the order **//Primates//**. His use of the word Primates depicts the “human centered world” view of Western science during the 18th century. It shows that humans were "created" first; It also shows that people are animals. 
 * |||||||||||||||| order ||
 * family |||||||| family ||
 * genus |||| genus |||| genus |||| genus ||
 * species || species || species || species || species || species || species || species ||  ||

**Pumpkin (Giant Pumpkin) Classification****:**

 684 King 2005 || =Scientific Classification= Pumpkin classification^
 * **Atlantic Giant** ||
 * 
 * Domain || Eukaryota ||
 * Kingdom || Plantae ||
 * Phylum || Magnoliophyta ||
 * Class || Magnoliopsida ||
 * Order || Cucurbitales ||
 * Family || Cucurbitaceae ||
 * Genus || Cucurbita ||
 * Specie || Maxima ||

**Plant Classification:** Science classifies living things in an orderly system through which they can be readily identified. Living things are grouped into categories of increasing size, based upon relationships within those categories. For example, all plants can be put in order from the more primitive to the more advanced. plant classification^
 * 1) Kingdom
 * 2) Division
 * 3) Class
 * 4) Order
 * 5) Family
 * 6) Genus
 * 7) Species

**Giant Pumpkin Taxonomy:** Pumpkin is the fruit of the species Cucurbita pepo or Cucurbita mixta. It can refer to a specific variety of the species Cucurbita maxima or Cucurbita moschata, which are all of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae. **In Korea and Japan, the word translating to "pumpkin" (but more accurately referring to the black C. moschata squashes) is used as a slang term for an unattractive woman. In the American South and Midwest, however, the term "pumpkin" is sometimes used as an endearment.**

__** Things That Can Hurt Your Pumpkin **__ **Insects:**

Cucumber Beetle: common insect, can transmit diseases and damage leaves, to prevent use mild spray's early on then much stonger ones later in the season.

Snails/Slugs: Attacks baby pumpkins before the skin is hard then eats it from inside, prevention place pumpkin on sand and keep adding sand until shell is hard.

Vine Borers: Little bugs that enter your vine at the base slows growth then stops growth then kills plant, prevention use Diazinion on entire root before this happens to you. Squash Bug: Much on leaves and stems prevention, use Sevin



=Bacteria= Madeleine

// The bacteria ////Erwinia tracheiphila// // can cause the disease bacterial wilt. // //** __Symptoms__ **// // Bacteria can cause a substance to ooze from the plant. The xylem vessels of the plant can also become discolored. // // Abnormal growth near the leaves on the stems may take place. Vines become droopy. Rotting of the plant occurs. //

//**__Detection__**// //** Pull apart a section of the stem that was cut off. If there is a stringy sap inside, it is most likely infected by bacterial wilt. **//

//**__Treatment__**// //** The use of insecticides such as Sevin and ** methoxychlor can reduce the number of cucumber beetles that carry and spread the bacteria. // // Keeping the soil moist can promote new root growth (helps the infected plants). // // There is no cure for bacterial wilt. //

//**__Prevention__**// // The use of barriers such as screens around the plant can prevent the carriers of the bacteria from getting to the pumpkin. // // Insecticides can also be used as a preventive method. //

//**__Control__**// //** The use of insecticides can keep the number of bugs spreading the bacteria to the plant under control. **// //** Controlling weeds near the pumpkin and planting away from areas with bugs that carry bacteria can also control bacterial wilt. **//

Sources: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/bacteria.htm http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2219/2060075202_adab0d76e7.jpg?v=0 http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/Images/Cucurbits/Beetles/CucBeetleFS12.jpg&imgrefurl=http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/PhotoPages/Cucurbit/CucBeetles/BeetlesFS12.htm&usg=//__//0qbIM2VuYx4LXY3Grw5h0NLKrhQ=&h=269&w=400&sz=26&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=Acd_bxD5C_dkpM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstringy%2Bsap%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1//__ __//http://www.gardening123.com/ProductInfo/sevin/graphics/Dust_Products.jpg//__

David Johnson
 * Fungi **

This disease causes the pumpkin to weaken and collapse before it is harvested, and displays dark black sploches and rotting. Anthracnose hurts the pumpkin once its in storage after harvesting. Even if the fruit looks healthy other than the white mold, it will decline over time. White odorless mold developes on the pumpkin, and is even contagious and is passed on from fruit to fruit if they touch.
 * Black Rot (gummy stem blight)-** caused by the fungus //Didymella bryoniae// (sexual) and //Phoma cucurbitacearum// (asexual).
 * Anthracnose-** caused by the fungus //Colletotrichum orbiculare//. Lesions develope on the pumpkin growning inwards and circular. It also shows little specks on the fruit.
 * Phytophthora Blight-** caused by the fungus //Phytophthora capsici.// This causes abnormal growth. Pumpkins grow to be small and distorted.
 * Sclerotinia White Mold-** caused by the fungus //Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.// This disease can harm the pumpkin in storage and in the field.

The fungi need a specific environment in order to live and flourish, at which point they will cause harm to a pumpkin. Most fungi like a moderate temperature and high moisture levels.



Viruses Jonny O'Connell
 * Any pumpkin which has leaves of strange shape or patterns of pale areas should be considered as virus infected.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It would be important when growing to get rid of any leaves that show any of those symptoms.
 * An aphid, nematode or any other sapsucker could transfer the possible virus to the pumpkin crop.
 * Sometimes the only symptoms are a slight abnormal bending of the plant tip, this could only last a few days.
 * In some pumpkin crops the tip can die and a lateral bud will become a new stem tip.


 * Viruses is the most common cause of diseases in pumpkins.
 * These diseases are responsible for weight loss, mottling, distortion, and making the product unmarketable.
 * Pumpkin plants infected early in their development, are severly accected and produce few fruit


 * **Cucumber Mosaic Virus Infection-** of a pumpkin can sometimes cause mottling of the fruit, especially if infected early in the growth of the plant
 * **Watermelon Mosaic Virus-** causes infection and color breaking in the miniature pumpkin variety
 * **Other Pumpkin Viruses:** Squash Mosaic, Zucchini Yellow Mosaic, and Watermelon Mosaic 2.
 * Major Viruses are transmitted by several aphid species in a non-persistent manner.


 * The Use of insecticides can potently kill insects that can spread viruses through out you patch.
 * Once a pumpkin as acquired a virus there is nothing that can be done to save them.