Non food-based biofuels grown on agriculturally marginal lands have the greatest potential for providing alternative fuels with increased environmental and ecological benefits in arid and semiarid regions of the world. Our long term goal is to develop area suitable alternative crops that can be used as biofuel feedstocks for ethanol and biodiesel production. Of the many potential biofuel feedstocks, we have selected to start investigations with buffalo gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) since: (1) there has been extensive research on this species as a potential food crop at the University of Arizona; (2) this species is relatively drought tolerant; (3) it is native to semi-arid areas of the southwestern United States; and (4) it has been shown to be suitable for production on marginal lands. The arid/semiarid West has the most underdeveloped land in the United States and has great potential for this purpose. Buffalo gourd was not commercialized as a result of the initial domestication program because did not provide unique oil and starch profiles sufficient to offset the costs of commercialization in the food industry. However, its benefits and potential for biofuel feedstock production had long been and remain recognized.
Results/Conclusions
In order to start experiments aimed at optimizing planting systems for biofuel production, the available seed needed to be evaluated for quality. Seeds were acquired from the former University of Arizona project, and germination tests were conducted in growth chambers. Germination percent of buffalo gourd seeds was assessed at different temperature and light regimes. Overall, the results showed germination rates in the 85% range. At higher temperatures germination percentage increased slightly, and it was not affected by different light regimes at any temperature treatment. As shown in many crops, we expected field emergence to be lower than our germination tests. Thus, to increase seed under field conditions for further studies, we opted for greenhouse planting and transplantation after the development of the first pair of true leaves. Initial field plantings were successful and our seed stock was increased five (5x) fold.
