RESCUE OF Cucurbita spp. GERMPLASM IN RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

ABSTRACT: In order to rescue Cucurbita spp. germplasm from family farming in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, to quantify the phenotypic variability and identify the main species grown, 17 expeditions were organised to collect accessions in the municipalities of Baraúna, Rio do Fogo and Touros (major fruit suppliers to the state trade) and in eight more municipalities in different regions of the state (Apodi, Caraúbas, Ceará Mirim, Cerro Corá, Currais Novos, João Câmara, Lagoa Nova and Macaíba). Each collected accession consisted of a fruit or about 20 seeds provided directly by the farmer. All accessions were identified according to botanical species, and packaging procedures, identification and seed storage in the cold for preservation were performed. A sample of collected accessions, consisting of fruit and a small number of accessions obtained as C. moschata seeds, was multiplied using self-fertilisation of plants. Plants and fruits were characterised preliminarily with the aid of morphological descriptors. Accessions were rescued in all visited municipalities - 112 of C. moschata and 50 of C. maxima. There was a predominance of C. moschata species cultivation, and great variability was found in various plant and fruit descriptors in the accessions characterised.