摘要: Within the genus Cucurbita (Cucurbitaceae) there are fi ve domesticated species, three of which, C. pepo, maxima, and moschata, important crop species grown world-wide. Although cultigens all found in temperate sub-tropical climates, maxima pepo considered best adapted to climates; whereas, many moschata restricted tropical subtropical climates. have a vining habit growth, monoecious with large showy fl owers that bee pollinated. Horticulturally, members this conveniently classifi ed into broad groupings: (1) summer squash cultigens, fruit which is consumed immature, about days after set; (2) winter squash, harvested when mature, 50 60 set, but may require additional storage reach optimum sugar levels for desirable eating quality; (3) gourd pumpkin used mainly ornamental purposes. highly outcrossed under natural conditions, they can be inbred without readily apparent inbreeding depression. They often breeding books along other self-pollinating crops. For reason, pedigree system has been widely successfully adopted by most cucurbit breeders. wide, interspecifi c crosses, backcross system, together selection, also utilized system. Most efforts qualitative traits such as appearance (size, color, shape), bush or vine resistance few major diseases. Important quantitative size, seed % dry matter esh, latter an parameter quality. Prior 1980, varieties pumpkins were open-pollinated. However, North America plethora new F1 hybrids introduced trade during past 30 years, majority cultivars having semi-bush growth. Department Biological Sciences, University New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824; e-mail: jbloy@unh.edu © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC 94 Genetics, Genomics Breeding Cucurbits