Cucurbita pepo hybrids

Abstract

A plant or a part thereof, the plant being a Cucurbita pepo hybrid having more than one flower/fruit per node as in Cucurbita pepo subsp. texana, the fruit of the plant having the phenotype of that of Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plant of  Cucurbita pepo  comprising a genome of  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  pepo  plant of a cultivar group selected from the group consisting of Zucchini and Cocozelle and an introgression from  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  texana  subsp. Crookneck, the plant having more than one flower/fruit per node as in  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  texana  subsp. Crookneck conferred by said introgression, the fruit of the plant having a fruit shape of the cultivar group selected from the group consisting of Zucchini and Cocozelle, wherein the plant is obtainable by:
 (a) crossing a  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  texana  subsp. Crookneck plant with a  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  pepo  plant of a cultivar group selected from the group consisting of Zucchini and Cocozelle;   (b) self-pollinating progeny individuals from said crossing;   (c) selecting progeny individuals from said selfing having more than one flower/fruit per node as in  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  texana;  and   (d) backcrossing individuals selected in step (c) to a  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  pepo  of a cultivar group selected from the group consisting of Zucchini and Cocozelle, wherein said steps (b) to (d) and optionally selfing following (d) is repeated for a sufficient number of times so as to obtain a plant having more than one flower/fruit per node as in  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  texana  subsp. Crookneck, the fruit of the plant having the fruit shape of the cultivar group selected from the group consisting of Zucchini and Cocozelle.   
     
     
         2 . The plant of  claim 1 , being an inbred. 
     
     
         3 . A cell having the genome of the plant of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . A culture comprising a plurality of the cells of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         5 . A plant part of the plant part of  claim 1 , selected from the group consisting of roots, stems, leaves, cotyledons, flowers, fruit, embryos, pollen, and seeds. 
     
     
         6 . The cell of  claim 3 , being regeneratable. 
     
     
         7 . A method of producing the plant of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 (a) crossing a  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  texana  subsp. Crookneck plant with a  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  pepo  plant of a cultivar group selected from the group consisting of Zucchini and Cocozelle;   (b) self-pollinating progeny individuals from said crossing;   (c) selecting progeny individuals from said selfing having more than one flower/fruit per node as in  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  texana;  and   (d) backcrossing individuals selected in step (c) to a  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  pepo  of a cultivar group selected from the group consisting of Zucchini and Cocozelle, wherein said steps (b) to (d) and optionally selfing following (d) is repeated for a sufficient number of times so as to obtain a plant having more than one flower/fruit per node as in  Cucurbita pepo  subsp.  texana  subsp. Crookneck, the fruit of the plant having the fruit shape of the cultivar group selected from the group consisting of Zucchini and Cocozelle.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said method additionally comprises the step of propagating individuals obtained following step (d). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of propagating includes the step of vegetative propagation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of propagating includes the step of propagation by seed. 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a  Cucurbita pepo  hybrid seed, the method comprising crossing a first parent inbred  Cucurbita pepo  plant with a second parent inbred  Cucurbita pepo  plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid F1 seed, wherein both parents are  Cucurbita pepo  plants of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A hybrid seed obtainable by crossing a first parent inbred  Cucurbita pepo  plant with a second parent inbred  Cucurbita pepo  plant, wherein both of the first and the second parent  Cucurbita pepo  plant are of the plant of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         13 . A hybrid plant, or parts thereof, produced by growing the hybrid seed of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . A method of generating a  Cucurbita pepo  fruits and/or flowers, the method comprising:
 (a) seeding seeds of the plant of  claim 1 , and/or planting seedlings of said seeds;   (b) growing plants generated from said seeds or said seedlings; and   (c) harvesting the fruits and/or flowers of said plants, thereby generating the  Cucurbita pepo  fruits and/or flowers.