LAUSR

Pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata; Cucurbitaceae) are the rich source of nutrients and valued for their biologically active substances to be used for the treatment of several diseases. The contents, composition and conformation of starch are the significant quality traits of C. moschata. Two germplasms were targeted for analysis regarding the taste difference. Results indicated that, total starch contents and amylose/amylopectin ratio were high in CMO-X as compare to CMO-E during each fruit development stage. Scanning electron microscopic and transmission electron microscopic observations revealed that smooth surface starch granules fused together to enhance the starch accumulation. For the comparison of fruit development in CMO-E and CMO-X, putative pathway for starch metabolism was developed and homologs were identified for each key gene involved in the pathway. GBSS and SBE were correlated with the difference of the amylose/amylopectin ratio of CMO-E and CMO-X. Conclusively, developmental regulation of genes associated with starch accumulation can be considered as an important factor for the determination of fruit quality.