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Bethlehem CT

It seems that a large number of 2517 Haist plants are exhibiting yellow leaves ( an excellent article was written about it in the GPC newsletter).
As a horticulturist it is generally observed that plants of yellow or variegated leaf cultivars will be less vigourous than their green leaved counterparts. Which makes sense because they contain less chloroplasts and therefore produce less chlorophyll.
However in doing a brief search of yellow genes in other crop plants there has been some research done with yellow leaved plants and how they can be possibly used in increasing yield. For example this study done with soybeans.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5904354/

I know there are some pretty astute growers and breeders who peruse this website and specifically this message board. I would be interested to hear other's thoughts on this, and if anyone thinks there could be benefits to looking into this with AG's.

7/8/2020 9:07:01 AM

Grittyville, WA

I would not be surprised if the recessive version of the gene gave the plant an advantage. There is a gene in people that conveys resistence to malaria... but you only want one copy of it with one copy its an advantage with two copies its detrimental.

7/8/2020 4:08:56 PM

Grittyville, WA

So it may still require some random genetic luck to be stand shoulder to shoulder with the top pumpkins grown by Haist, Holland, etc.

7/8/2020 4:16:21 PM

Western NY

If I'm reading it right, the yellowing is not an advantage (at least not in the vast majority of cases) but rather opens a door to study certain metabolic and photosynthetic pathways. This could lead to breeding that would be targeted towards these modes to increase future production.

7/9/2020 9:10:24 AM

Thomas wv

Wonder with all the yellow leaves its a big invitation to bugs since cucumber Beatles and vine borers love yellow

7/11/2020 10:15:36 PM

Bethlehem CT

Andy I think what you said is the main benefit, if I am understanding the study correctly. However there was a sentence that intrigued me.
In the Conclusion section it says; "Although, there are many negative consequences of yellow foliage mutations, some recent studies suggest that some of these mutants can be utilized to increase canopy photosynthetic CO2-exchange rates under field conditions. This may result in more efficient utilization of the light energy and possibly result in increased net productivity."
I know that the soybean is a far, far different crop that grows completely differently than our AG's. I only brought this up to see if perhaps there could be some positive aspects to something that seems mostly negative on the surface. In other words a lemons into lemonade type of thought process.

7/12/2020 9:24:33 AM

Bethlehem CT

Kerry, so true about yellow being a main attractant to bugs. Think about it.... pretty much all insect traps use yellow to lure the bugs in.

7/12/2020 9:26:06 AM

Upper Strasburg, PA

My 2517 has no yellow on it at all. The plant is perfectly normal. I’ve heard speculation that the yellow is expressed more in cooler weather. I don’t know the science behind that, but it’s pretty warm where I live and I don’t have any yellow leaves

7/14/2020 2:36:22 PM

Grittyville, WA

We were very wet and cool here. Not sure if anyone got it as bad as Cindy. I did notice some on my 2005 last year (same genetics) and it was particular to that plant. Wouldnt stop me from growing it. May mean it has some extra enzyme function. One that might help grow heavy pumpkins! But it did seem to wreck Cindy's plant. I wonder if her plant is back to normal yet.

7/14/2020 3:39:03 PM

Cheshire Ma USA

my 1547 Kruszyna 2020 that is a 2005 Haist has the yellow leaf gene as well

5/23/2021 8:19:16 AM