Breeding Cucurbits for Organics in the Southeast Region

This work made possible through an Organic Research and Extension Initiative grant. number: 2012-51300-20006

7/27/15 8/7/15

Luping Qu and Jeanine Davis

Downy Mildew Tracking - Peter Ojiambo NCSU

Luping Qu and Jeanine Davis

Luping Qu and Jeanine Davis

Luping Qu and Jeanine Davis

Market Class Striped Cucumber Beetle Risk?

Straightneck Summer Squash

Crookneck Summer Squash

OK!

Striped cucumber beetles tend to leave these plants alone

Scallop/Patty Pan Squash

Acorn Squash

Delicata Squash

Jack-o’-lanternPumpkin Be Careful!

CocozelleStriped cucumber beetles inflict

moderate damage

ZucchiniNeeds Help!

Striped cucumber beetles LOVE these plants!

Striped Cucumber Beetle Preference within Cucurbita pepo

Lauren Brzozowski & Brian Leckie

Market Class Striped Cucumber Beetle Risk?

Straightneck Summer Squash

Crookneck Summer Squash

OK!

Striped cucumber beetles tend to leave these plants alone

Scallop/Patty Pan Squash

Acorn Squash

Delicata Squash

Jack-o’-lanternPumpkin Be Careful!

CocozelleStriped cucumber beetles inflict

moderate damage

ZucchiniNeeds Help!

Striped cucumber beetles LOVE these plants!

Striped Cucumber Beetle Preference within Cucurbita pepo

C. pepo ssp pepo

C. pepo ssp texana

Lauren Brzozowski & Brian Leckie

ExtremesSuccess PM Summer Squash

(C. pepo ssp. texana)Golden Zucchini

(C. pepo ssp. pepo)

ExtremesSuccess PM Summer Squash

(C. pepo ssp. texana)Golden Zucchini

(C. pepo ssp. pepo)

Lauren Brzozowski & Brian Leckie

C. moschata alternatives

What are your main insect pests now?

1. Squash bug2. Vine borer3. Mexican bean beetle4. Striped cucumber beetle5. _______________?

Waynesville Field Day, August 2015

Cultivar Cultivar CultivarDMR-NY 264 32.1 ± 7.4 Alibi 19.7 ± 5.1 Alibi 14.8 ± 1.8Alibi 21.3 ± 2.5 Martini 18.3 ± 5.0 Martini 12.6 ± 2.4Boston Pickler 8.0 ± 1.5 Homemade Pickles 12.3 ± 1.2 Early DMR 12.2 ± 0.6Marketmore 76 7.2 ± 2.5 Early DMR 12.1 ± 3.8 Homemade Pickles 11.8 ± 2.1Marketmore 97ff 6.7 ± 3.5 MM97ff x MM 80 Bw 10.8 ± 1.6 MM97ff x MM 80 Bw 6.7 ± 1.7Marketmore 80BW 6.7 ± 0.9 DMR-NY 264 9.3 ± 2.4 Boston Pickler 5.2 ± 0.8Straight 8 2.8 ± 0.8 Marketmore 76 8.6 ± 3.1 Marketmore 76 4.4 ± 1.0Diva 1.8 ± 0.9 Boston Pickler 6.9 ± 1.1 DMR-NY 264 4.4 ± 1.7

Fruit/Plant Fruit/Plant Fruit/Plant

Waynesville, NC 2015 Freeville, NY 2015Waynesville, NC 2014

Cucumbers

7/27/15 8/7/15

Luping Qu and Jeanine Davis

7/27/15 8/7/15

Luping Qu and Jeanine Davis

Cultivar Cultivar CultivarDMR-NY 264 32.1 ± 7.4 Alibi 19.7 ± 5.1 Alibi 14.8 ± 1.8Alibi 21.3 ± 2.5 Martini 18.3 ± 5.0 Martini 12.6 ± 2.4Boston Pickler 8.0 ± 1.5 Homemade Pickles 12.3 ± 1.2 Early DMR 12.2 ± 0.6Marketmore 76 7.2 ± 2.5 Early DMR 12.1 ± 3.8 Homemade Pickles 11.8 ± 2.1Marketmore 97ff 6.7 ± 3.5 MM97ff x MM 80 Bw 10.8 ± 1.6 MM97ff x MM 80 Bw 6.7 ± 1.7Marketmore 80BW 6.7 ± 0.9 DMR-NY 264 9.3 ± 2.4 Boston Pickler 5.2 ± 0.8Straight 8 2.8 ± 0.8 Marketmore 76 8.6 ± 3.1 Marketmore 76 4.4 ± 1.0Diva 1.8 ± 0.9 Boston Pickler 6.9 ± 1.1 DMR-NY 264 4.4 ± 1.7

Fruit/Plant Fruit/Plant Fruit/Plant

Waynesville, NC 2015 Freeville, NY 2015Waynesville, NC 2014

Cucumbers

Downy Mildew Resistance in NY

14-Aug 24-Aug 3-Sep 13-Sep 23-Sep 3-Oct 13-Oct0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100Disease Severity in Organic CDM Trial

15-40115-40215-40315-404DMR-NY264Marketmore 97Seminis SV4719CSDasher IIStraight Eight

Aver

age

Plan

t Dis

ease

d Le

af A

rea

3-Sep 8-Sep 13-Sep 18-Sep 23-Sep 28-Sep 3-Oct 8-Oct0

50

100

150

200

Cumulative Fruit Counts in Organic CDM Trial

15-401 15-402 15-403 15-404 DMR NY264Seminis SV4719CSMarketmore 97Dasher 2Straight 8

Cum

ulat

ive

frui

ts h

arve

sted

from

tria

l

Cultivar Cultivar CultivarMultipik 34.9 ± 3.8 Multipik 27.6 ± 9.3 Multipik 22.6 ± 1.8Gentry 34.9 ± 0.6 Gentry 22.6 ± 8.9 Gentry 16.7 ± 2.6Success PM 27.7 ± 2.8 Early Summer Crookneck 16.4 ± 4.8 Dunja 15.9 ± 1.7Zucchini Elite 19.6 ± 2.1 Teot Bat Phut 13.4 ± 8.6 Zucchini Elite 14.6 ± 0.6Dunja 13.9 ± 1.0 Zucchini Elite 13.1 ± 3.3 Early Summer Crookneck 13.6 ± 1.0Romulus 12.9 ± 1.3 Dunja 11.0 ± 1.0 Tromboncino 13.0 ± 0.6Black Beauty 12.2 ± 2.6 Golden Zucchini 8.8 ± 3.0 Golden Zucchini 11.7 ± 0.4Golden Zucchini 10.5 ± 1.9 Tromboncino 7.8 ± 1.9 Teot Bat Phut 10.8 ± 2.5

Fruit/Plant Fruit/Plant Fruit/Plant

Waynesville, NY 2014 Waynesville, NY 2015 Freeville, NY 2015

Zucchini & Summer Squash

New Entries for 2016?

Cultivar CultivarWrangler 7.6 ± 0.8 11.5 ± 2.4 Sarah's Choice 3.2 ± 0.9 11.5 ± 0.8Athena 5.8 ± 0.3 11.5 ± 1.8 Trifecta 4.5 ± 0.7 11.3 ± 0.5PMR Delicious 51 6.4 ± 1.0 10.3 ± 1.1 Lilliput 5.1 ± 0.9 11.0 ± 2.1Hannah's Choice 7.2 ± 0.4 10.0 ± 0.8 Hannah's Choice 3.5 ± 0.8 10.7 ± 1.1Superstar 5.4 ± 0.0 9.7 ± 1.7 Athena 2.3 ± 0.3 9.9 ± 1.3Diplomat 5.9 ± 0.6 8.9 ± 1.5 Wrangler 4.4 ± 0.8 9.2 ± 1.5Earlichamp 6.1 ± 0.3 8.2 ± 1.8 PMR Delicious 51 3.7 ± 1.3 7.4 ± 1.9PI124112 6.6 ± 0.2 5.1 ± 0.8 Sivan 6.0 ± 1.5 7.2 ± 1.1

Waynesville, NC 2015Waynesville, NC 2014 Fruit/Plant Brix Fruit/Plant Brix

CultivarTrifecta 1.9 ± 0.6 10.3 ± 1.7Lilliput 2.1 ± 0.5 9.9 ± 1.7Sivan 1.8 ± 0.3 8.4 ± 2.4Sarah's 0.8 ± 0.3 8.3 ± 2.4Wrangler 1.9 ± 0.4 8.3 ± 1.8PMR Del. 51 1.3 ± 0.0 8.2 ± 1.7Hannah's 1.1 ± 0.3 7.5 ± 1.1Athena 0.9 ± 0.4 7.0 ± 2.2

BrixFreeville, NY 2015

Fruit/Plant

Melons

Pollination

• Day before:– Close buds to be crossed

• Full petal color in bud• Skip if in greenhouse with good insect control

– If any perfect flowers, emasculate first• Morning of:

– Transfer pollen– Use multiple male flowers for cucumber– Cover pollinated female flower with bag or gel cap– Pollen timing depends on season and weather