organism: Cucurbita pepo
description: Cucurbita pepo belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, whose economic importance is second only to the Solanaceae. It is a highly variable species. The “summer squash” types (including zucchini) rank among the highest-valued vegetables worldwide, and the “winter squash” types of C. pepo and related Cucurbita spp., are food staples and rich sources of fat and vitamins in developing countries.