Squash, Cucurbita

Zucchini, marrow, summer squash Cucurbita pepo)... 

The enzyme obtained from summer crookneck squash (Cucurbita pepo condensa) is blue green in colour and has a molecular weight of ca. 150000. When a small amount of L-ascorbic acid is added to the blue solution of the enzyme in 0.1 m acetate buffer at pH 5.6, the colour is rapidly bleached to light yellow (Cu(II) - Cu(I) Fig. 5-14). Admission of dioxygen to the system slowly restores the blue colour due to reoxidation to Cu(II). 

Table 7-10. Relative leachability of isotopes from young leaves of squash (Cucurbita pepo) (from Hikey et al., 1958).

Ascorbate oxidase is found in higher plants, but cucumber, Cucumis sativus, and green zucchini squash, Cucurbita pepo medullosa, are the most common sources (29). The immunohistochemical localization of ascorbate oxidase in green zucchini reveals that ascorbate oxidase is distributed ubiquitously over vegetative and reproductive organs in all specimens examined (50). Primary structures of ascorbate oxidase from cucumber, C. sativus (51), pumpkin, Cucurbita sp. Ebisu Nankin (52), and zucchini, C.pepo medullosa (53), have recently been reported. 

The seed oils from African pumpkin (squash) (Cucurbita pepo L.) were evaluated for their fatty acid profiles and the presence of other phytochemicals (53). The seed oils contained 28-36% oleic acid. The primary fatty acid was linoleic acid, along with palmitic and stearic acids, with a total unsaturated fatty acid concentration of 77-83%. Alpha-tocopherol was determined at a concentration up to 3.0 mg/ 100 g. These data suggest that pumpkin seed oil may be a better choice for consumers who prefer high unsaturation, or both linoleic and oleic acids. Seed oils from species of Cucurbita with minimal pericarp, called naked seed squash, are discussed below. 

Brassinolide stimulated an increase in fresh weight of segments of hypocotyls of etiolated squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.). Brassinolide-treated segments contained a slightly higher level of IAA than water-treated segments and also showed a tendency towards decreased level of ABA. 

Pumpkin, squash Cucurbita pepo, White, yellow, orange, green Carotenoids, chlorophylls... 

A completely purified preparation of ACC synthase was first obtained from wounded mesocarp of winter squash (Cucurbita maxima) fruits [58,59]. The enzyme was first purified over 1300-fold by a series of chromatographic steps, and polyclonal antibodies... 

Tanaka et al. (1966) detected choline kinase activity in leaves of barley (A. saliva L.), wheat (Triticum vulgare), tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum L.), spinach Spinacea oleracea L.), and squash Cucurbita pepo L.). The characteristics of the enzyme were very similar to those described for rapeseed. A nonspecific phosphatase which hydrolyzed phosphorylcholine was also described. These authors pointed out that these two enzyme activities were far from sufficient to account for the rapid equilibration of POi with the large reserves of phosphorylcholine found in plants. There is still no satisfactory answer to this problem. 

Potter TS, Hashimoto K (1994) Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 30 123 Niinimaki A (1987) Scratch chamber tests in food handler dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 16 11-20 Pigatto PD, Polenghi MM, Altomare GF (1987) Occupational dermatitis in bakers a clue for atopic contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 16 263-271... 

We have approached these problems immunochemically using a specific antibody against wound-induced ACC synthase purified from fruits of winter squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch. cv. Ebisu). 

Fig. 2.6A-E. Histology of food reserves 1. (A) Cotyledon cells of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus). From Harris and Chrispeels, 1975 [33]. (B) and (C) Electron micrographs of meso-phyll cell and epidermal cells (B) and protein body (C) of squash (Cucurbita maxima) cotyledons. From Lott et al., 1971 [46]. (D) and (E) Electron micrographs of a barley Hordeum vulgare) aleurone cell with aleurone grains (D) and aleurone grain (E). From Jacobsen et al., 1971 [40]. C crystalloid, G globoid, GC globoid cavity, PCB protein carbohydrate body, PB,pb protein body, PM protein matrix. Land S oil bodies, A and n nucleus, st starch grains...

Garden squash Cucurbita pepo Cucurbitaceae Cooked as a compote or as a vegetable... 

Frentzen, M , Nishida, I. and Murata, N. (1987) Properties of the plastidial acyl-(Acyl-Carrier-Protein) glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase from the chilling-sensitive plant squash (Cucurbita moschata). Plant Cell Physiol. 28, 1195-1201. 

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