Molecular tools for NS pumpkin breeding - The beginning

Abstract

Since ancient times, pumpkin fruit have been essential in the diet of rural communities. Nowadays, pumpkins are cultivated both for fruit and seeds. Consumers appreciate cold pressed pumpkin seed oil, as it is rich in phytosterols and tocopherols, and fruit due to its sweet and mild taste as well as high nutritive value. The development of molecular tools for use in pumpkin breeding is still in the early stages and marker assisted selection is little-used, compared to other vegetables such as tomato and lettuce. Molecular genotyping and development of markers for marker-assisted selection could be an invaluable way to circumvent the disadvantages of classical pumpkin breeding in NS breeding program. Molecular characterization of existing genotype collection will be performed and the data used for creation of core collection.