Intraspecific genome size variation in pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo)

Genome size has recently been reported to vary 16% in pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.). The majority of this variation can be attributed to genome size differences in pumpkins of various taxonomical classes. The purpose of this study was to determine if intraspecific genome size variability could be detected by flow cytometry in Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo pumpkin cultivars with similar fruit morphology. The pie pumpkins group was chosen for this study because of their similar fruit size, shape, and color. Genome sizes ranged from 1.109 pg in Spooktacular to 1.064 pg in Small Sugar. Spooktacular had a genome size larger than Small Sugar in all three experiments. Therefore, intraspecific genome size variation does exist in C. pepo subsp. pepo among pumpkin cultivars of similar fruit morphology.