Characterization of ornamental pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. var. ovifera (L.) Alef.) genotypes: molecular, morphological and nutritional properties

In this study, 36 different ornamental pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. var. ovifera (L.) Alef.) genotypes were analyzed in terms of detailed morphological parameters, molecular properties, and some nutritional features. In this regard, high morphological diversity among the genotypes was observed in terms of plant, leaf and fruit characteristics. Molecular results showed that the genotype which is farthest from the other genotypes of 55% of the difference was determined and fourteen ISSR primers produced, on average, 121 bands in the accessions examined, of which 88 (73%) were polymorphic and Jaccard's similarity coefficient ranged from 0.45 to 0.96. Nutritional analysis showed that C. pepo var. ovifera seeds are rich in potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) with the concentrations of 8490-21,798 mg/kg and 13,902-28,686 mg/kg, respectively. It was also determined that the pumpkin seed oils had alpha and gamma tocopherols and no beta-tocopherols. All samples had beta-carotene with the range of 19.63-150.88 mg/kg oil.