Economic Evaluation and Oil Productivity of the Seeds for Different Pumpkin Species

Abstract

Pumpkin belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. In Ararat valley we are cultivating mainly 3 species: Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, and C. moschata. Its fruits have many valuable properties. Pumpkin pulp contains minerals, vitamins, starch, sugar. It was envisaged to identify the varietal characteristics of pumpkin, fruit and seed yield in the conditions of the Ararat valley. We studied 6 samples of different types of pumpkins to identify oil productivity of their seeds. Germination of the studied accessions was 91¬–96%. Some of them germinated friendly, while others gradually. Martuni population and Sem variety from the C. pepo have been marked as the earliest flowering and fruiting with vegetation period 103 and 105 days accordingly. The studied varieties differed in the shape and weight of the fruit. The largest fruits were observed in maxima pumpkins (5.5–5.2 kg). The yield of varieties varied from 29.7 to 40.1 t/ha. The purpose of our research was to study varieties of different types of pumpkins for detecting oil productivity of their seeds. Among the pumpkin varieties studied, the varieties Martuni population, Ararati Vardaguin and Sem (1.22, 0.95, 0.92%, respectively) were distinguished by a high quantity of seeds. The largest yield of seeds per hectare was obtained from the Martuni population, Berkanush, Ararati Vardaguin, which amounted to 379.4, 341.9 and 339.0 kg/ha. Among the varieties under study, the Martuni population, Ararati Vardaguin, Sem and Berkanush, which are characterized by high productivity and seed yield, are of great interest. The most promising for obtaining oil is a variety Sem.