Halloween Countdown Day 4
The curse of the Toxic Squash!
My 2023 pumpkin harvest includes Winter Luxury pumpkins, Patty Pan squash (Cucurbita pepo), Autumn Crown (C. moschata), Crown Prince, Candy Roaster, Hubbard, Ute, Turban, and Uchiki Kuri (all C. maxima).
A pumpkin patch is a wholesome Halloween sight, but there is evil lurking in the domain of squash… Toxic Squash Syndrome! Squash can develop unusually high concentrations of a naturally occurring toxin called cucurbitacin E. This toxin is a tetracyclic terpene whose smell and taste repel insect and mammal pests.
If humans consume too much cucurbitacin, they can suffer excruciating symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, and hair loss over a period of several days. Fortunately, it is easy to detect the toxin before consuming an unknown squash. Simply lick the raw squash pieces after the fruit is cut up. If they taste bitter, do not eat! It is important not to eat the bitter squash because poisoning can result from a small amount.
Wild squash species have higher cucurbitacin E levels than domesticated squash. The eldritch ornamental squash with bizarre shapes and patterns found in fall home décor were bred for looks rather than culinary use, so they have the wild squash genetics for high cucurbitacin E production. Other types of toxin-loaded squash and gourds, such as Calabash and Colocynths, are sometimes grown for ornamental use. People may consume these unusual squash due to ignorance, or experimentation with traditional medicinal uses of these species.
Toxic squash syndrome can be prevented by only eating squash from reputable sources, such as supermarkets and home vegetable gardens where there is no chance of cross pollination with wild squash species. The progeny of ornamental and edible squash may look like edible squash, but they contain the dangerously high levels of cucurbitacin E. If the only squash in the local vicinity are edible domesticated squash varieties, the seeds should be safe to save and grow for next year’s harvest. However, bitter squash can be caused by harsh environmental stress so always taste before cooking. Make sure your Halloween pumpkin soup and pie is a treat not a nasty trick!
#katia_plantscientist #pumpkinpatch #toxic #squash
