Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Analysis in Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex. Poir)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai during kharif 2015 with 32 pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex. Poir) collected from different parts of Tamil Nadu. The genotypes were evaluated for variability estimates, heritability, genetic advance as percent of mean, magnitude of association between characters, their inter-dependence, direct and indirect effects of yield attributes on yield per plant. High estimates of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation were observed for yield per plant, vine length, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and 100 seed weight. High heritability with high genetic advance was recorded for number of primary branches, vine length, petiole length, inter node length, first male flower node, sex ratio, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh thickness, fruit weight, 100 seed weight and yield per plant. The correlation analysis of growth parameters showed that leaf length and days to first female flowering recorded positive significant association with fruit yield. The yield traits revealed that, the traits days to fruit maturity, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight and 100 seed weight showed high positive significant association with fruit yield per plant. Path analysis revealed that vine length, leaf length, inter node length, first male flower node, days to first male flowering, days to first female flowering, sex ratio, days to fruit maturity, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit weight registered positive direct effect on yield.