Pumpkin

Cucurbita spp.

1. Identification and origin

The genus Cucurbita spp., belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, includes several cultivated species of pumpkins, courgettes/zucchini and summer squashes. It is native to the Americas, where it was domesticated thousands of years ago. It is currently widely cultivated in temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world.

2. Economic importance

The species of Cucurbita have great economic relevance in horticulture, being used for fresh consumption, processing, animal feed and ornamental purposes. The courgette/zucchini is one of the most consumed vegetables in Europe, while pumpkins are important in the food and pastry industry. The genus also has growing value in organic farming.

3. Botanical characterisation

They are annual plants, with a creeping or climbing habit, with long, hairy stems. The leaves are large, palmate and rough. The flowers are unisexual, yellow and showy, with entomophilous pollination. The fruits show great diversity of shapes, sizes and colours, depending on the species and variety. The seeds are flattened and light-coloured.

4. Soil and climate requirements

They prefer warm, bright climates, being sensitive to cold and frost. They require fertile, well-drained soils that are rich in organic matter. They demand good water availability, especially during fruit formation, but are sensitive to waterlogging. They benefit from long rotations to reduce pressure from pests and soil-borne diseases.

5. Main pests

• Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci, Trialeurodes vaporariorum): weakening and transmission of viruses.
• Aphids (Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae): leaf curling and transmission of viral diseases.
• Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis): damage to leaves and flowers.
• Mites (Tetranychus urticae): discolouration and necrosis.
• Noctuids (Spodoptera spp.): perforations in leaves and young fruits.
• Cucurbit beetles (various Chrysomelidae): leaf damage and transmission of bacterial diseases.

6. Main diseases

• Powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii, Erysiphe cichoracearum): white coating and loss of vigour.
• Downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis): yellow spots and leaf necrosis.
• Anthracnose (Colletotrichum orbiculare): leaf lesions and fruit rots.
• Root rots (Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora spp.): death of seedlings and decline.
• Viral diseases (CMV, WMV, ZYMV): mosaics, deformations and reduced production.

7. General crop management

It includes the choice of varieties adapted to the local climate, establishment in fertile, well-drained soils, regular irrigation without waterlogging, staking or training when necessary, frequent monitoring of pests and diseases and the use of appropriate rotations. Integrated protection is essential, with emphasis on the control of viral disease vectors and on ventilation in greenhouses.

Bibliographic references

• Robinson, R. W., & Decker‑Walters, D. S. (1997). Cucurbits. CABI.
• Paris, H. S. (2016). Genetics and Breeding of Cucurbitaceae. Springer.
• Zitter, T. A., Hopkins, D. L., & Thomas, C. E. (1996). Compendium of Cucurbit Diseases. APS Press.
• FAO. Crop Production Guidelines for Cucurbits.