Abstract:In order to investigate the genetic basis of crops germplasm resources, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs of PRC and the government of Guangxi Autonomous Region of China launched the projects ‘The Third National Survey and Collection on Crop Germplasm Resources’ and ‘Collection, Identification and Preservation of Crop Germplasm Resources in Guangxi’, respectively. We have collected systematically the resources of Cucurbita in Guangxi, followed by the identification and evaluation of pant morphology, fruit characters, flowering habits, taste quality and resistance to powdery mildew and virus. 261 samples of Cucurbita resources were obtained throughout the whole province, especially in which northern, western and eastern regions represented a higher number of germplasm resources, with better quality and higher resistance than those of genotypes in other areas. These genotypes were classified belonging to C. moschata D. cultivars, with its typical characteristics such as palm-shaped leaves and pentagonal fruit stalks. They showed rich genetic variations, i.e. the coefficient of variation of leaf size and main stem diameter ranging from 10% to 11%, fruit shape index ranging from 0.516 to 3.190, the coefficient of variation of fruit weight ranging from 0.89 kg to 11.40 kg (mean = 38.1%). However, there were defects such as poor genetic stability, overall quality differential and unsatisfactory complex characters. Fifty-three resources showing earlier maturity, 32 genotypes with high-quality, 61 high resistance resources to powdery mildew and 5 high resistance resources to virus were identified. Collectively, this study provided solid foundation for the conservation and efficient use of pant local germplasm resources.