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Anthesis Data Summary (Question 1 of 8)

1- Will Anthesis-treated pumpkins favor going heavy? (Does enhanced cell division influence wall thickness?)

While many growers thought increasing cell division would increase the odds for their pumpkins to go heavy, this was not the design of my product. Increasing cell division is part of density, but this product does also increase volume proportionally. What this translates to is more mass, but also more volume, so the density (which is defined as mass divided by volume) essentially does not change. Genetics and possibly grower practices and geographic location may influence percent heavy, but Anthesis was not designed to do this. Pumpkins have gone both over and under chart that had Anthesis applied to them that was consistent with the seed lines used. Essentially, I designed Anthesis to provide more cells and a longer duration of pumpkin growth with the added benefit of a ripening delay. The reason why I explored this route is that, in the end, more overall mass is what we are all looking for, and the percent over chart is nice but not going to be the “winner” in the long run. The slogan I developed is…

More Cells, More Weight, More Wins!

11/10/2015 8:00:30 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

Hi Matt. Just wondering how long you believe these pumpkins will continue to grow when anthesis treated? Thinking back to the AGGC site a few years ago i couldn't help but notice that it was very common for Doc Liggett to have pumpkins still growing at 120 days.

11/10/2015 8:20:16 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Thank you Matt

11/11/2015 9:46:11 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Yea, good stuff Matt!

Thanks for all your hard work.

11/11/2015 10:20:02 AM

Connecticut

DONKIN- There should be a ripening delay with Anthesis but I do not have data that shows how long they will grow for. What the data and growers comments do agree on is that there has been improved late season growth. Many growers did not report how old their fruits were so the oldest that I know of that was still growing right up to the weigh-off was 108 days old. I know older fruit have been weighed, but the question of were they still growing is different. To hear so many comments that the Anthesis treated pumpkin was still growing and the others in the patch had slowed down, I think opens the door to pushing for earlier pollinators. To be able to have multiple growers in different geographical locations report the same findings is the start of a pattern. Hope this helps.

Smallmouth + So.Cal.Grower- I appreciate your support!

11/11/2015 8:59:07 PM

Austin MN

Matt why is your product use etholean a hormone used to rippen fruit? I know more about it myself studying hormones for a living but maybe you could go into more detail why you use it?

11/11/2015 11:54:48 PM

Rudolph

Matt all my fruit were growing still when we picked them, I'm pollinating june 1st next year..
I'll be useing your product again, don't change the formula at least for the batch you send me..
Matt has spent a lot of time on this he's a smart hard working guy, congratulations on your success.. I do believe I know why you put the etholean in your product, basically the same reason a bodybuilder needs estrogen..
But I'd like to hear your take on it.

11/12/2015 2:02:11 AM

Austin MN

Josiah you also used my product BigStem this year alot in the end month as well. I really believe that using both Matt's Anthesis and BigStem will be an important factor to keep the pumpkin growing in the late session!

11/12/2015 8:19:29 AM

Columbia, Kentucky

So how do we know that it was one or the other or both that helped? Also could there be a disadvantage to useing them in close proximity? I think more research and data needs to be collected. I know matt is hard at work collected alot of this information and present in soon. It will be interesting to see what both bring to growth, health and plant/ fruit longevity.

11/12/2015 12:53:01 PM

Ma.

I used Matt's anthesis product this season.I feel I had positive results. Grew a 1538.5 with and a 1367 without. The 1367 took off after pol. The 1538 definitely lingered after pol. but continued growing longer and at a faster pace once it took off. Granted we had a great September but this is when the 1538 really started to outpace the 1367.I will use it again next season.
I would like to try Big Stem also next year on a few plants but I would need some Data and ingredients before I try it.

11/12/2015 3:19:25 PM

Austin MN

You can feel free to email me at tanner.n.conway@gmail.com I can send info and anything else you would like to know.

11/12/2015 4:16:10 PM

Marion, Wisconsin

I think this thread is talking about Anthesis. Stop hijacking please.
Matt W.

11/12/2015 6:35:54 PM

Austin MN

Matt it is not hijacking when me and matt have been talking about how to use are products together to grow larger pumpkins.

11/12/2015 7:37:12 PM

South East

Matt, does the ripening delay work in hot an humid climates?

11/12/2015 9:56:58 PM

Connecticut

Tconway-
The correct spelling is “Ethylene” and it can have three main effects on plants. The most commonly associated effect is speed ripening of fruits, and this is true when it is applied later in development. This is why fruits ripen quicker when placed in a brown paper bag as this concentrates the natural ethylene that is produced by ripe fruits.

Ethylene can also induce gynoecious female lines in cucurbits (such as pumpkin plants) used mainly in hybrid seed production when applied to plants in the 1-5 leave stage.

The key part to my research is 48-hrs. after pollination is when fruits produce their naturally highest ethylene levels. The reason why this timing of application is so important is I am only looking to extend the natural signal. Also, please see the attached link to my presentation I posted last winter for further explanation. Specifically you want to look at slides #34-42

The Science Behind Anthesis:
http://www.team-pumpkin.org/downloads/IncreasingCellDivisionsmaller.pdf


MellowPumpkin (Josiah)-
Thanks for not only trying my product this year but sharing your results. I also appreciate your kind words as no one knows the extremely long time I spent researching this topic with mostly dead ends, but through a continued effort I finally have something that is doing what I think we need to improve pumpkin weights. Your idea to pollinate on June 1st is interesting and I think Anthesis should help keep your pumpkin growing as close to the weigh-off as possible. The theme from growers is consistent with your observations that Anthesis applied pumpkins are growing right up to the weigh-off. This was something many had not seen before, so the ripening delay of Anthesis is being documented by many growers. See my above reply to Tconway for the reason why the ethylene is so important. If you have any additional questions just let me know.

11/12/2015 10:50:17 PM

Connecticut

Scott B.-
In MellowPumpkin (Josiah)’s case I agree that there could be some potential mixed effects between the two products. However, I look at what is the second best pumpkin that each product has produced. While I can only speak for my Anthesis, the second biggest pumpkin it produced was 2034 pounds. Since it produced two pumpkins over the one-ton mark when there was only a total of 7 official pumpkins worldwide is quite a statement. With the data I have collected I can say that there are many positive results from those that just applied Anthesis.

I highly recommend that Anthesis is applied alone as it is a targeted alteration of hormone levels and adding anything else during this time could create negative effects. I have spent the time to identify the specific signals that naturally occur in the pumpkin and have essentially tweaked them to get the attributes we determine to be desirable. (Bigger pumpkins!)

ghoomis-
Thanks also for sharing your results and you are not alone with your comments. Even in areas that had good weather, it seems the Anthesis pumpkins outpaced in growth the non-treated pumpkins later in the season. Based on the results that I have gotten, I do not think there will be many unsprayed controls for comparison next year;-) Congratulations on a new personal best this year!

Frank and Tina-
The ripening delay works on the internal hormone level, so it should be independent of weather. I do not see any reason why the hot and humid (or even cool and dry) conditions would suppress the ripening delay.

11/12/2015 10:50:54 PM

Alex, IN

Matt,

I had gotten the product to use this season and during the 48 hour window we had heavy rain. Had over 10 inches in June alone. What if anything can be done to apply during rain?

Would I need to build a cover for the fruit or will the product to what it is supposed to do even in the rain?

Thank You,
Mikkal

11/13/2015 2:53:59 PM

Connecticut

Mikkal-
If the weather you experience 48-hrs. after pollination is rain the odds are the product will be washed off or at the very least the potential effectiveness will be reduced. The solution is quite easy, all you need to do is cover the pumpkin during this critical time period.

I have found umbrellas work great at not only shading the developing pumpkin but may also increase the odds of them setting...

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=241949

The spray needs contact time with the actual pumpkin and in the rain Anthesis can be either washed off, or diluted, which will cause a change in the ppm of the hormone that is critical.

11/13/2015 4:58:36 PM

The North Coast

Yo Matt D...just wanted to thank you for bringing some absolute science! Cheers. I'm out.

11/13/2015 7:32:31 PM

France

I have always wondered why most of my pumpkins kept growing for 100/116 days. I thought weather was an important factor.

11/21/2015 2:39:46 PM

Clarkston

Matt anyway to get ahold of you would like to use your product cant believe the amount of research you have done. My research has lead me to you lol.. but im setting fruit soon this week in Michigan frankmorse3180@gmail.com

6/1/2022 11:48:52 PM