GENETIC DIVERSITY STUDIES IN PUMPKIN

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Dhaka, during the period from March 2020 to September 2020 using eighteen pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) genotypes to study the genetic variability and diversity of pumpkin in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental results showed significant differences among the genotypes. For all the traits, phenotypic variance exceeded genotypic variance. High genotypic co-efficient of variation was found in number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit breadth, individual fruit weight, and yield per plant. Low GCV was observed for plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf length, days to first male flower, and days to first harvest. High heritability with high genetic advance in percent of mean was observed fruit length, fruit breadth, individual fruit weight, and yield per plant 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, days to first female flower, days to first female flower anthesis, and days to first harvest. Correlation studies showed that positive and significant correlation of fruit yield per plant with plant height, days to first harvest, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit breadth, individual fruit weight and fruit yield per plant. The highest intra cluster distance was found in cluster IV (4.244) and the lowest was found in cluster II (1.246). Among five clusters, the highest inter cluster distance was found in between cluster IV (47.008) and V (55.141) and the lowest between cluster II (26.200) and III (20.165). Considering group distance and phenotypic performances, the inter genotypic crosses between G4 "Hazari (Local)" and G13; G4 "Hazari (Local)" and G14 (BD-4371) and G13 (BD-4391) and G14 (BD-4371) might be suggested for future hybridization program.