Atlantic Giant
Encyclopedia
Atlantic Giant is the common name for a pumpkin variety bred publicly to produce huge fruit. More precisely, it refers to the round phenotypes of the giant squash
variety of the species
Cucurbita maxima
, bred from simple Hubbard squash
material.
The uniqueness of this variety lies in its production of fruits more massive than those produced by any other plant in the world. Fruit can exceed 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter. The heaviest Atlantic Giant on record weighed 1810.5 pounds (821.2 kg) and was grown in Wisconsin
in 2010.
of such a giant squash variety is commercially provocative, the name Atlantic Giant came from a U.S. legal protection that was granted for the rounder phenotypes. Numerous labels were created for this variety over the past two centuries. This phenotype recently graduated back to the public domain, retaining the "Atlantic Giant" label. After the Atlantic Giant right expired, an ensuing filing was made in September 1985 and accepted, purportedly for the oblong phenotypes of the variety. This 18-year right expired in 2004, leaving all phenotypes of this originally public variety back into the public domain.
Squash (fruit)
Squashes generally refer to four species of the genus Cucurbita, also called marrows depending on variety or the nationality of the speaker...
variety of the species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
Cucurbita maxima
Cucurbita maxima
Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago...
, bred from simple Hubbard squash
Cucurbita maxima
Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago...
material.
The uniqueness of this variety lies in its production of fruits more massive than those produced by any other plant in the world. Fruit can exceed 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter. The heaviest Atlantic Giant on record weighed 1810.5 pounds (821.2 kg) and was grown in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 2010.
History
As the germplasmGermplasm
A germplasm is a collection of genetic resources for an organism. For plants, the germplasm may be stored as a seed collection or, for trees, in a nursery.-See also:*Germ plasm, the germ cell determining zone...
of such a giant squash variety is commercially provocative, the name Atlantic Giant came from a U.S. legal protection that was granted for the rounder phenotypes. Numerous labels were created for this variety over the past two centuries. This phenotype recently graduated back to the public domain, retaining the "Atlantic Giant" label. After the Atlantic Giant right expired, an ensuing filing was made in September 1985 and accepted, purportedly for the oblong phenotypes of the variety. This 18-year right expired in 2004, leaving all phenotypes of this originally public variety back into the public domain.
See also
- Barnesville Pumpkin FestivalBarnesville Pumpkin FestivalThe Barnesville Pumpkin Festival is an annual festival in Barnesville, Ohio, dedicated to the growing and harvesting of pumpkins and other fall harvests. The festival, which has been held since 1964, is conducted by a locally appointed committee and attracts an average of 100,000 people during the...
- Hants County ExhibitionHants County ExhibitionThe Hants County Exhibition is an annual fall fair held in Windsor, Nova Scotia. It is the oldest agricultural fair in North America. It was first held on the grounds of Fort Edward beginning in 1765. It has been running continuously since 1815...
- Pumpkin FestPumpkin FestThe Keene Pumpkin Festival is a yearly celebration held in Keene, New Hampshire, United States around Halloween...
- Windsor Pumpkin RegattaWindsor Pumpkin RegattaThe Windsor Pumpkin Regatta is an annual water race held in October on Lake Pesaquid in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The course is a half mile from start to finish...
Further reading
- Susan Warren, Backyard Giants: The Passionate, Heartbreaking, and Glorious Quest to Grow the Biggest Pumpkin Ever, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2007. ISBN 1596912782