Variety traits

Storage life — Cucurbita moschata

Cucurbita moschata Duchesne

The storage life of Cucurbita moschata is defined as the period in days from the moment of harvest until the loss of marketability, with highly storable varieties capable of maintaining freshness for over 160 days.

In the reference 21 varieties crop Butternut squash, where this is mentioned in the description.

In breeding and variety testing, the storage life of Cucurbita moschata is measured by the number of days elapsed from the time of harvest until the fruit loses its marketable appearance. Evaluation of samples is conducted after the fruits have reached physiological maturity, which is determined by peduncle hardness, rind coloration, and tissue condition.

Storage life values vary depending on the genetics of the variety. Low storage life is considered to be around 105 days, medium ranges from 133–148 days, and high is over 150–160 days. Certain breeding lines are capable of being stored for up to 6 months or longer.

The trait is critically dependent on agrotechnical factors: exposure of fruits to frost and damage to their integrity during harvest drastically reduce storage duration. Breeding efforts are focused on combining high storage life with yield and the accumulation of valuable nutrients.

General information about the subject — on the page Keeping quality.

Sources8

Varieties of Butternut squash mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.