Annie Nyu

The HITAR Institute Canada, British Columbia, Canada
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Horticulture, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/ijh.2024.14.0027
Received: 25 Jun., 2024    Accepted: 29 Jul., 2024    Published: 21 Aug., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Nyu A., 2024, The domestication of pumpkins: historical perspectives and modern genetic evidence, International Journal of Horticulture, 14(4): 250-262 (doi: 10.5376/ijh.2024.14.0027)

The domestication of pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.) has a rich history that spans thousands of years, originating in the Americas and spreading globally. Understanding the genetic and evolutionary pathways of these crops provides insights into their domestication processes and the genetic diversity that has been shaped over millennia. This study synthesizes historical perspectives and modern genetic evidence to elucidate the domestication history of pumpkins, focusing on the genetic relationships between wild and domesticated species, and the impact of domestication on genetic diversity. Phylogenetic studies have revealed complex relationships among Cucurbita species, identifying novel connections and clarifying the genetic origins of domesticated taxa. Genomic analyses have uncovered structural variants and candidate domestication genes involved in growth regulation, plant defense, and seed development. Evidence suggests that domestication bottlenecks and gene flow between wild and domesticated subspecies have played significant roles in shaping genetic diversity. Additionally, the integration of archaeological and genomic data has provided a comprehensive understanding of the domestication timeline and the traits selected during early cultivation. The findings highlight the intricate genetic and evolutionary processes underlying pumpkin domestication. The identification of key genetic variants and the role of gene flow offer valuable insights for future breeding programs aimed at enhancing crop resilience and quality. Continued research integrating genomic and archaeological data is essential for a deeper understanding of the domestication and evolution of Cucurbita species. 

Pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.); Pumpkin domestication; Phylogenetics; Genetic diversity; Ggene flow;, Structural variants; Archaeological genomics