AN ELECTROPHORETIC COMPARISON OF CULTIVATED MEMBERS OF THE CUCURBITACEAE

Abstract

Thirty-eight cultivated accessions of the diverse Cucurbitaceae were electrophoretically surveyed using 13 enzyme systems. Included were representatives from 6 of the 6 Cucurbitaceae tribes, 9 genera, and 17 species. Additionally, several cultivars or groups were included for those species possessing marked morphological diversity such as the 7 groups of Cucumis melo var. melo and 7 of the numerous cultivars representing Cucurbita pepo. Zymograms were scored for the presence or absence of bands measured in mm from the origin. Cluster analysis (complete linkage method) was used to detect affinities among the accession surveyed. Data suggest that: 1) Cucumis melo (x=12) possessed greater biochemical affinity with C. sativus (x=7) than with either C. anguira or C. metuliferus (both x=12); 2) Sechium edule and Cyclanthera pedata. both members of the tribe Sicyeae, were more closely associated with members of other tribes than with each other; 3) Some cultivars of Cucurbita pepo shared greater affinity with Cucurbita moschata than with other cultivars of C. pepo. Additional observations as well as their possible implications will be presented.