GENETIC VARIABILITY STUDIES IN F4 GENERATIONOFPUMPKINS (Cucurbita SPP.)

MAHAVEER SHRIKANT MUTTUR¹, RAVINDRA MULGE², V.D. GASTI³, ANAND B. MASTIHOLI⁴, SUMANGALA KOULAGI⁵, G.C. NAGESH⁶*
¹Department of Vegetable Science, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, 591218 , University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka
²Department of Vegetable Science, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, 591218 , University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka
³Department of Vegetable Science, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, 591218 , University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka
⁴Department of Vegetable Science, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, 591218 , University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka
⁵Department of Vegetable Science, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, 591218 , University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka
⁶Department of Vegetable Science, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, 591218 , University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka
* Corresponding Author : nageshhort@gmail.com

Received : 27-11-2016     Accepted : 29-12-2016     Published : 06-01-2017
Volume : 9     Issue : 1       Pages : 3603 - 3605
Int J Agr Sci 9.1 (2017):3603-3605

Keywords : Pumpkin, Genetic variability, Heritability, Genetic advance
Academic Editor : Pankaj Kumar Meghwal
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : The Author would like to acknowledge UHS, Bagalkot for providing financial support in the form of Merit Scholarship for M.sc Research Programme and the Department of Vegetable Science, KRCCH, Arabhavi for providing the field and other necessary facilities
Author Contribution : Interpretation, Critical correction of the article, acted as a corresponding author and final approval of the version to be published

The Sixty F4 generation pumpkins genotypes were evaluated in randomized block design with two replications to study variability, heritability and genetic advance. Significant differences were observed among genotypes for all the traits studied except for the number of ridges per fruit. High estimates of heritability coupled with high values of genetic advance over mean was observed for average fruit weight, β-carotene content of fruit, seed cavity length, sex ratio, number of seeds per fruit, fruit yield per vine, vine length at 45 and 75 DAS, number of primary branches per vine at 45 and 75 days after sowing (DAS), number of fruits per vine and fruit length. This indicates predominance of additive component for these traits and hence direct selection would be more effective in improving these traits.