Structural diversity of pectins isolated from the Styrian oil-pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca) fruit

► Several pectic polysaccharides were isolated from oil-pumpkin fruit biomass. ► Homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan regions were present in all fractions. ► Pectins were slightly acetylated and contain β-(l,4)-d-galactan chains. ► NMR chemical shifts of esterified and free galacturonic acid were clearly assigned. ► The primary structural features of pumpkin pectins were at first determined.