Student Article
How Big Can the World's Largest Pumpkin Get?
Genetically (adverb): Related to genes or heredity.
Division (noun): The process of splitting into parts.
Specialized (adjective): Designed for a specific purpose.
Pumpkins are growing bigger than ever before!
Giant pumpkins don't just happen
Pumpkins are growing to record sizes thanks to careful seed selection, plenty of space, and lots of water. The largest pumpkin ever grown was by Stefano Cutrupinin in Italy. It weighed 2,702 pounds! Some pumpkin varieties, like the Atlantic Giant, are genetically designed to grow very large.
Superpower! How pumpkins feed themselves
Pumpkins grow rapidly during a cell division phase that lasts much longer than in their relatives, like cucumbers. After the cells divide, they expand for up to two months, resulting in larger cells than in other fruits.
When pumpkins get too big
Pumpkins also have higher levels of a specialized tissue called phloem, which transports sugars to where they are needed for growth. However, when pumpkins become too heavy, they develop a flat base because they can't hold their shape.
© Dr. Emma Davies / Our Media
Genetically (adverb): Related to genes or heredity.
Division (noun): The process of splitting into parts.
Specialized (adjective): Designed for a specific purpose.