Evaluation of Figleaf Gourd and White-Seeded Pumpkin Genotypes as Promising Rootstocks for Cucumber Grafting
Rootstocks are vital in cucumber production. Although figleaf gourd (<i>Cucurbita ficifolia</i>) is among the species used, its application remains limited due to the perception that white-seeded pumpkin (<i>C. maxima × C. moschata</i>) offers superior commercial traits. This...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/7/778 |
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| Summary: | Rootstocks are vital in cucumber production. Although figleaf gourd (<i>Cucurbita ficifolia</i>) is among the species used, its application remains limited due to the perception that white-seeded pumpkin (<i>C. maxima × C. moschata</i>) offers superior commercial traits. This perception is partly due to the insufficient collection and evaluation of local figleaf gourd germplasm, which has obscured its potential as a rootstock. Based on prior screening, four wild figleaf gourd genotypes from Yunnan Province were selected and compared with seven commercial white-seeded pumpkin rootstocks. Scions grafted onto figleaf gourd exhibited vegetative growth (stem diameter, plant height, and leaf area) and fruit morphology (length, diameter, biomass, and surface bloom) comparable to the top-performing white-seeded pumpkin genotypes. Fruits from figleaf gourd rootstocks also displayed comparable or significantly higher nutritional quality, including vitamin C, total soluble solids, soluble sugars, and proteins. Notably, figleaf gourd itself showed significantly greater intrinsic resistance to Fusarium wilt than white-seeded pumpkin. When used as a rootstock, it protected the scion from pathogen stress by triggering a stronger antioxidant response (higher SOD and POD activity) and mitigating cellular damage (lower MDA levels and electrolyte leakage). These results provide evidence that these figleaf gourd genotypes are not merely viable alternatives but are high-performing rootstocks, particularly in enhancing nutritional value and providing elite disease resistance. |
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| ISSN: | 2311-7524 |