Vol. 10, Issue 7 (2021)

Author(s):
VS Ingole, MN Bhalekar and DB Kshirsagar

Abstract:
The current study, titled "Variability studies in F4 generations of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch Ex. Poir," took place in 2019 during the summer at All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar (Maharashtra). The present investigation was undertaken with 5 progenies with their 20 plants of each progeny for a cross RHR PK-18-3-1 x RHR PK-09-4-6 (C:1x2) of pumpkin in F4 generation for evaluating their genetic components such as variability, heritability, genetic advance, genetic advance as a per cent mean and correlation for growth, yield and yield attributes. Wide range of variability was observed for most of the characters. High values of GCV and PCV observed for number of primary branches per vine, number of fruits per vine, average yield per vine, average weight of fruit, and yield tonnes per hectare. high estimates of genetic advance as a percent of mean in characters, like final vine length at last harvest, number of primary branches per vine, days to first female flower appearance, node at which first female flower appeared, no. of fruit per vine, average length of fruit, average diameter of fruit, yield per vine, yield per plot, yield per hectare, fruit flesh thickness, number of ridges per fruit, seed cavity length, seed cavity width, number of seed per fruit, 100 seed weight and TSS. The significant and high positive correlation both at phenotypic and the genotypic level was observed between fruit yield per vine and the yield contributing characters such as final vine length, number of primary branches per vine, number of fruits per vine, average weight of fruit (at genotypic), average diameter of fruit and fruit flesh thickness.