Statesboro, Georgia
May 13, 2008
 Move
over ‘Longface’, ‘Spooktacular’ and ‘Trickster’ - there’s a new
face in the pumpkin patch. Welcome ‘Orange Bulldog’, a new
variety of the familiar fall fruit that may soon be available to
consumers and wholesale pumpkin growers. Researchers at the
University of Georgia recently
introduced the new, virus-resistant pumpkin, specifically
developed for ornamental fall and Halloween displays.
Dr. Gerard Krewer from the Department of Horticulture at the
University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental
Sciences, collected pumpkin seeds in remote areas of Brazil in
1996. The Brazilian seeds were then planted in laboratories,
hybridized, and ultimately used to develop ‘Orange Bulldog’.
Dr. George Boyhan, Assistant Professor and Extension
Horticulturist at the University of Georgia and lead author of
the study published in the October 2007 issue of HortScience,
explained that pumpkins have not been readily available in
southern states because conventional pumpkins are highly
susceptible to viruses and often die before they produce fruit.
The research team set out to develop a virus-resistant pumpkin
with bright orange color and an open cavity that would be
suitable for Halloween carving. According to Boyhan, ‘Orange
Bulldog’ seeds “consistently produced fruit during fall
production, whereas commercial pumpkin cultivars often succumb
to severe virus infections before fruiting.”
Although ‘Orange Bulldog’ is not yet available to growers or the
public, Boyhan’s team hopes that a commercial supplier will soon
handle the seeds and make the new pumpkin available to
pick-your-own pumpkin growers and consumers.
The complete study is available on the ASHS HortScience
electronic journal web site:
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/42/6/1484
Founded in 1903, the American
Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest
organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural
research, education, and application. |
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