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Collecting cultivated and wild Cucurbits in Mexico

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Abstract

The authors spent approximately 5 weeks in Mexico (October 13–November 15, 1979) collecting Cucurbitaceae in 5 areas: 1) Tampico- Valles- Ocampo; 2) San Luis Potosi; 3) Celaya- Queretaro; 4) Veracruz; 5) Zacatecas- Durango- Mazatlan. A few supplemental collections were made in the vicinity of Tapachula, Chiapas. A grand total of 183Cucurbita collections was made, distributed as follows:C. pepo-49;C. moschata-47;C. mixta- 41;C. ficifolia-11;C. foetidissima-13;Cucurbita sp. wild, unidentified- 22. A few collections were made in the following genera:Sechium-4;Lagenaria-2;Sicana-1;Momordica-4;Sicyos-2;Cucumis melo-2;C. anguria-1. The ecological distribution of the 4 cultivated species is reported and discussed. Seed of these materials was divided equally between the participating countries, and will be made available to interested plant breeders.

Resumen

Los autores pasaron aproximadamente cinco semanas en México (13 octubre a 15 noviembre, 1979) recogiendo Cucurbitaceae (principalmente) Cucurbita).Sue esfuerzos fueron concentrados en cinco áreas: 1) Tampico-Valles- Ocampo;2) San Luis Potosí;3) Celaya- Queretaro;4) Veracruz;5) Zacatecas- Durango- Mazatlán. Se hieieron unas pocas colecciones suplementarias en la vecindad de Tapachula, Chiapas. Un gran total de 183 colecciones de Cucurbitafueron hechas distribuidas como siguen: C. pepo-49; C. moschata-47; C. mixta-41; C. ficifolia-11; C. foetidissima-13; Cucurbitasp. silvestres, y las que no pueden ser identificadas- 22. Unas colecciones pequenas fueron hechas de la siguiente genera: Sechium-4; Lagenaria-2; Sicana-1; Momordica-4; Sicyos-2; Cucumis melo-2; C. anguria-1. La distribución ecologica de las cuatro especies cultivadas es comunicada y discutida. Las semillas de estas materiales fueron divididas igualmente entre los paises que participaron, y serán disponibles para criadores interesados de las plantas.

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Additional information

Substance of a lecture delivered at the Annual Banquet, Society for Economic Botany, Indiana University, Bloomington, June 18, 1980.

USDA, SEA-AR, La Jolla, CA, and Miami, FL. Our thanks are due to Dr. Grover Sowell, Jr., Research Plant Pathologist, Regional Plant Introduction Station, Experiment, GA, for his effective work in planning and organizing this expedition.

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Whitaker, T.W., Knight, R.J. Collecting cultivated and wild Cucurbits in Mexico. Econ Bot 34, 312–319 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858303

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