84 – II.2. SQUASHES, PUMPKINS, ZUCCHINIS, GOURDS (CURCURBITA SPECIES)
Species or taxonomic group
The genus Cucurbita is well known for its cultivated species which in English are
called by the general names of squashes, pumpkins, marrows and gourds, and in Spanish
are commonly known as calabazas and zapallos or in some areas of the Americas by
indigenous names. Other names have been given to Cucurbita species in countries where
these species have been adopted into local agriculture, e.g. in the French language,
citrouille, courgette and potiron. The cultivated Cucurbita species are: C. argyrosperma,
which includes the cushaw type (long curved neck) of squash; C. maxima, which includes
pumpkins and hubbard, turban and buttercup squash; C. moschata, which includes the
winter squashes; and C. pepo, which includes both summer squash (e.g. zucchini, scallop,
scallopini, crookneck and cocozelle squash) and winter squash (e.g. the common or “true”
pumpkin, delicata, acorn and spaghetti squash) as well as ornamental gourds. C. ficifolia
includes the fig leaf gourd and lacayote. The most important of these species in terms of
agricultural production worldwide are C. maxima, C. moschata and C. pepo.
The genus Cucurbita is exclusively native to the Americas. Prior to the European
contact (i.e. prior to 1492 of the Common Era), various Cucurbita were a mainstay of
traditional Native American agriculture. In the Americas, Cucurbita have traditionally
been one of the “three sisters” of native agriculture together with beans (Phaseolus
vulgaris) and maize (Zea maize). The three crops were grown together, with the maize
providing support for the climbing beans, and shade for the Cucurbita. The Cucurbita
provide ground cover to limit weeds and keep the soil moist. The beans fix nitrogen for
all three crops. Subsequent to the European contact, Cucurbita species were disseminated
worldwide and cultivated on other continents (Paris, 1989). Today, Cucurbita species are
cultivated worldwide, and are an important food source for much of the world’s
population. In 2013, Asia region (primarily the People’s Republic of China, and India)
was the largest producer of squashes, pumpkins and gourds with more than 65% of the
total hectares planted to Cucurbita species worldwide, followed by Africa with 15% of
the global acreage, then North and Central America and the Caribbean with 8%, Europe
with 7.5%, South America with 3% and Oceania with 0.9 % (FAOSTAT, 2013).
Domesticated species are cultivated in large production areas for processing and the
fresh market, as well as in home gardens. Cultivated Cucurbita species are grown
primarily for their seeds, fruits and gourds. Cucurbita seeds can be eaten directly, ground
into paste, meal, “nut” butter or fine flour. The seeds are also sources of oils and proteins
(Robinson and Decker-Waters, 1997). After the hull is removed, the seeds contain about
50% oil and up to 35% protein. Most of the oil is made up of non-saturated fatty acids,
and thus is of high nutritional value. Conjugated fatty acids among some Cucurbita oils
make them highly useful as drying oils, as they combine readily with oxygen to form an
elastic, waterproof film. Mature and immature Cucurbita fruits are edible and eaten as a
vegetable. The flesh of some fruits (e.g. C. maxima) can be dried, ground into a powder
and used with cereals to make bread, cakes, etc. (Chiej, 1984; Facciola, 1990; See,
Wan Nadiah and Noor Aziah, 2007). The fruits of one Cucurbita (C. ficifolia) are used to
make confections and beverages, some alcoholic. In addition, in many places in Latin
America and elsewhere in the world, flowers and some vegetative parts (e.g. tender stem
tips, leaves, tendrils) are also eaten as vegetables (Nee, 1990; Merrick, 1991; Lira, Andres
and Nee, 1995). The vines and fruits can also be used as fodder for domesticated animals
(Mariano and Dirzo, 2002). The gourds can be used for ornamental purposes or, as has
been the case historically, as containers. Few people grow Cucurbita flowers for
decorative purposes as a flower lasts only one morning. Only one species (C. maxima)
