Pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.) are an important specialty vegetable. Field studies were conducted on three pumpkin cultivars characterized with different growth habits to determine the effects of plant population and genot...Pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.) are an important specialty vegetable. Field studies were conducted on three pumpkin cultivars characterized with different growth habits to determine the effects of plant population and genotypes on marketable yield. Increasing plant populations from 4780 to 9560 plant per hectare resulted in significantly greater fruit number and yield in both growing seasons and for all tested genotypes. Average fruit weight declined at the higher populations. The response of pumpkin genotypes to different planting densities was genotype (growth habit) dependent since the response was pronounced in large vine types compared to bush type. The phenotypic variation existed among pumpkin genotypes for yield seems to be under genetic control. Foliar application of potassium improved growth and yield of pumpkin plants although the non-significant effect. These results demonstrate that growers may increase pumpkin yield by increasing plant populations.展开更多
Objective:To explore the in vitro antibacterial potential of the peel of Cucurbita moschata Duchesne(tropical pumpkin)(C.moschata)against human pathogenic bacteria.Methods:In the present study,dichloromethane(DCM),met...Objective:To explore the in vitro antibacterial potential of the peel of Cucurbita moschata Duchesne(tropical pumpkin)(C.moschata)against human pathogenic bacteria.Methods:In the present study,dichloromethane(DCM),methanol(MEOH)and aqueous extracts of C.moschata peel were examined for in vitro antibacterial potency against eight bacterial strains i.e.Bacillus cereus,Burkholderia cepacia,Escherichia coli,Enterococcus faecalis,Staphyloccocus aureus,Pseudomonas aerugenosa,Vibrio alginolyticus,Vibrio parahaemolyticus using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility and broth micro-dilution methods.Results:DCM extract of pumpkin peel exhibited the maximum zone of inhibition against Staphyloccocus aureus(21 mm)whereas aqueous extract of pumpkin peel revealed the least zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli(8 mm).MEOH extract gave maximum zone of inhibition against Pseudomonas aerugenosa(19 mm).Broth micro-dilution method showed minimum inhibitory concentration for the DCM extract against Burkholderia cepacia at 6.25 mg/mL.The minimum bactericidal concentrations were also determined to know the nature of all extracts.DCM and MEOH extracts exhibited bactericidal nature to all bacterial strains except for the Vibrio alginolyticus.The minimum bactericidal concentrations values exhibited bactericidal nature ranging from 3.12 mg/mL to 100.00 mg/mL.The screening of antimicrobial properties of different extracts of C.moschata peel revealed that the DCM extract possessed good antimicrobial efficacy compared to MEOH and aqueous extracts.Conclusions:Peel of C.moschata possesses antibacterial compounds and could be potential source for a new class of antibiotics.展开更多
文摘Pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.) are an important specialty vegetable. Field studies were conducted on three pumpkin cultivars characterized with different growth habits to determine the effects of plant population and genotypes on marketable yield. Increasing plant populations from 4780 to 9560 plant per hectare resulted in significantly greater fruit number and yield in both growing seasons and for all tested genotypes. Average fruit weight declined at the higher populations. The response of pumpkin genotypes to different planting densities was genotype (growth habit) dependent since the response was pronounced in large vine types compared to bush type. The phenotypic variation existed among pumpkin genotypes for yield seems to be under genetic control. Foliar application of potassium improved growth and yield of pumpkin plants although the non-significant effect. These results demonstrate that growers may increase pumpkin yield by increasing plant populations.
基金Supported by Functional Food and Nutraceutical Research Cluster Unit(Grant No.RU 06),Research Management Center,IIUM,Malaysia.
文摘Objective:To explore the in vitro antibacterial potential of the peel of Cucurbita moschata Duchesne(tropical pumpkin)(C.moschata)against human pathogenic bacteria.Methods:In the present study,dichloromethane(DCM),methanol(MEOH)and aqueous extracts of C.moschata peel were examined for in vitro antibacterial potency against eight bacterial strains i.e.Bacillus cereus,Burkholderia cepacia,Escherichia coli,Enterococcus faecalis,Staphyloccocus aureus,Pseudomonas aerugenosa,Vibrio alginolyticus,Vibrio parahaemolyticus using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility and broth micro-dilution methods.Results:DCM extract of pumpkin peel exhibited the maximum zone of inhibition against Staphyloccocus aureus(21 mm)whereas aqueous extract of pumpkin peel revealed the least zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli(8 mm).MEOH extract gave maximum zone of inhibition against Pseudomonas aerugenosa(19 mm).Broth micro-dilution method showed minimum inhibitory concentration for the DCM extract against Burkholderia cepacia at 6.25 mg/mL.The minimum bactericidal concentrations were also determined to know the nature of all extracts.DCM and MEOH extracts exhibited bactericidal nature to all bacterial strains except for the Vibrio alginolyticus.The minimum bactericidal concentrations values exhibited bactericidal nature ranging from 3.12 mg/mL to 100.00 mg/mL.The screening of antimicrobial properties of different extracts of C.moschata peel revealed that the DCM extract possessed good antimicrobial efficacy compared to MEOH and aqueous extracts.Conclusions:Peel of C.moschata possesses antibacterial compounds and could be potential source for a new class of antibiotics.
