EVALUATION OF PUMPKIN (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex poir.) GENOTYPES BASED ON PHENOTYPIC TRAITS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during March 2016 to September 2016 using 24 pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir.) genotypes based on phenotypic traits in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experiment conducted at the research farm of Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the variability of genotypes and select suitable genotypes for further breeding program. Experiment showed significant differences among the genotypes. Phenotypic variance was higher than that of genotypic variance for all the characters. High genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) was found for fruit yield, fruit weight and number of female flowers per plant. Low GCV was observed for days to first male flowering, days to first female flowering and leaf breadth. High heritability with high genetic advance in percent of mean was observed in fruit length, fruit breadth, fruit weight and pedicel length of female flower which indicated that these traits would be effective for genetic improvement. High heritability with low genetic advance in percent of mean was observed in days to first male flower, female flower and leaf breadth. Correlation studies showed that positive and significant correlation of fruit yield per plant with fruit length, fruit breadth and fruit weight. Path co-efficient analysis showed that days to first female flowering had the highest positive direct effect on yield per plant followed by internode distance, pedicel length of male flowers, pedicel length of female flowers, number of female flower per plant, fruit breadth and fruit weight. The highest intra cluster distance was found in cluster IV and the lowest was found in cluster III. Among five clusters the highest inter cluster distance was found in between cluster III and IV and the lowest between cluster I and IV. Considering group distance and phenotypic performances the inter genotypic crosses between G1 (BD 10149) and G24; G1 (BD 10149) and G23 (BD 4393); G23 (BD 4393) and G24 (PRITY F1) may be suggested for future hybridization program.