279 COMPARISON OF OPEN-POLLINATED AND HYBRID CALABAZA

Bush and short-vined calabazas [Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne) Poir.] derived from crosses of `Bush Butternut' with `La Primera' and `La Segunda' followed by several generations of selection and self pollination, are quite uniform in plant and fruit characteristics. Likewise, selfing and selection of vining cultigens has resulted in uniform vine and fruit characteristics. Hybrids between bush/short-vined and vining lines usually retain the plant habit of the bush/short-vined parent, and produce higher yields of fruit with thicker and better-colored flesh than open-pollinated cultigens. Hybrid bush/short-vined calabazas are earlier, have more concentrated fruit set, and utilize space better than open-pollinated cultigens. Commercial seed of hybrids is likely to be more readily available than seed of open pollinated cultigens.