Cucurbita ecuadorensis is a species of squash, described in 1965 as growing wild in Ecuador.[3] Like most wild gourds and squashes, it is a creeping vine and is often found climbing over other vegetation.[1] It has been found only in the western provinces of Guayas and Manabí.[4] There is evidence that it was domesticated in Ecuador around 10,000 years ago, likely for its seeds, but no direct records exist and it is no longer cultivated.[5] It is resistant to many diseases of cultivated Cucurbita species,[6] and has been used to breed resistance to several diseases into common squashes.[7] For example, researchers at Cornell University used Cucurbita ecuadorensis to breed resistance to papaya ringspot virus, watermelon mosaic virus, and powdery mildew, into common Cucurbita maxima cultivars.[7]Cucurbita ecuadorensis is listed on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable and is found protected in the Machalilla National Park.[1]
_mature_fruit_2_merged_pictures.jpg)
