New pumpkin variety Hualien ASVEG No. 2 has high yield
The Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, and the world-class AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, have developed a new disease-resistant pumpkin variety, "Hualien ASVEG No. 2 - Youwang", which can resist two viruses. One of its parents is the strongly virus-resistant variety "Hualien ASVEG No. 1 - Taishan", so "Youwang" can reduce pesticide control and is very suitable for organic and eco-friendly agriculture. It was already technology-transferred to a seed company for production at the end of last year, and commercial seeds are about to be produced, packaged and launched on the market by the end of March this year. Farmers who trial-planted it last year all said it performed well and had high yield, pumpkin cultivation and planting techniques are what we need to know.
Because viral diseases of pumpkin are becoming more and more serious, the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station and AVRDC officially began cooperation in the 101st year of the Republic of China on the selection and observational trials of virus-resistant pumpkin lines, transferring the disease resistance of disease-resistant wild pumpkins from Africa through traditional backcross breeding hybridization into traditional papaya-type pumpkins, so that the new variety combines the flavor of local pumpkins with the disease resistance of African disease-resistant wild species.
The first developed pumpkin, "Hualien ASVEG No. 1 - Taishan", has resistance to "Zucchini yellow mosaic virus disease" and "Cucumber mosaic virus disease". After trait examination, a plant variety right application was filed, and the plant variety right was finally approved in May of the 106th year of the Republic of China. At the same time, the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station continued to use "Taishan" as a parent to breed the first-generation hybrid variety "Hualien ASVEG No. 2 - Youwang", and just completed trait examination last year and submitted it to the Agriculture and Food Agency to apply for plant variety right. "Youwang" has high yield and also resists two viruses, and is very suitable for organic and eco-friendly cultivation.
When cultivated prostrate on the ground, "Youwang" has vigorous growth, and with disease resistance and reduced pesticide use, it has the potential to become a fresh force in organic and eco-friendly cultivation
Wang Qizheng, a researcher at the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, said that although traditional Chinese pumpkins are more heat-tolerant than Western pumpkins, because of viral disease problems, transplanting is also concentrated from October to February of the following year, so production is concentrated from February to May, and prices are lower during the peak production period.
In this trial, transplanting was delayed by one month. When transplanted in mid-March in a farmer demonstration field, it could be seen that the virus resistance of "Youwang" was better than that of the control variety, so it can be transplanted in mid-March or even April, and can be harvested from early July to mid-August when pumpkin prices are better. As long as attention is paid to controlling Phytophthora disease during the plum rain season and controlling melon flies during the flowering period, yield per hectare can reach more than 32 tons, while organic cultivation can reach more than 20 tons.
Farmers who participated in trial planting "Youwang" last year responded very well, and also thought this new variety was delicious, and that it can be planted in late spring, with harvesting beginning in July when prices are higher. Its shape is pomelo-shaped, making it easier to pack than traditional papaya-type pumpkins, and it is believed that it can sell for a good price on the auction market. Farmers can directly purchase "Youwang" seeds from Xinhua Seed Company, the seed company to which the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station transferred the technology.
