Journal of Horticultural Sciences

N. A. Tamil Selvi ¹, P. Jansirani ², L. Pugalendhi ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticulture College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, IN
2 Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticulture College and Research Institute, Periyakulam, IN
3 Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Yethapur, Salem - 636 119, IN

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to assess the extent of heterosis for fruit, yield and quality parameters in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir). The trial was conducted at Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticulture College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during 2009-2010. Hybrids developed by line x tester mating design, with twelve lines and three testers along with commercial check MPH 1 in pumpkin, were evaluated for fruit weight, fruit number per vine, fruit equatorial diameter, fruit polar diameter, flesh thickness, seed number per fruit, seed weight per fruit, fruit yield per vine and quality parameters, viz., total carbohydrate content, total carotenoid and crude fibre content in the fruit. Among the hybrids, Kasi Harit x Avinashi Local showed positive and significant heterosis for fruit number per vine, flesh thickness, seed weight per fruit, total carotenoid content and fruit yield per vine. Vadhala Gundu Local x CO 2 was the next best, as, the hybrid possessed desirable traits, viz., high fruit number per vine, flesh thickness, total carotenoid content and fruit yield per vine.

Keywords

Heterosis, Pumpkin, Relative Heterosis, Heterobeltiosis, Standard Heterosis.

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N. A. Tamil Selvi ¹, P. Jansirani ¹, L. Pugalendhi ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Vegetable Crops, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, IN
2 Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Yethapur, Salem - 636 119, IN

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the performance of 36 hybrids of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir) through Line x Tester mating design. Observations were recorded on the traits, viz., vine length, days to first female flower appearance, node number for first female flower appearance, sex ratio, days to first harvest, fruit number per vine, fruit weight, flesh thickness and fruit yield per vine, besides quality traits such as total carbohydrate content, total carotenoid content and crude fibre content in the fruit. Among the 36 hybrids of pumpkin studied, the cross 'Kasi Harit x Avinashi Local' excelled in yield per vine, followed by the crosses 'Vadhalagundu Local x CO-2' and 'Narendra Uphar x CO-2', respectively. Thus, first generation hybrids can be well-utilized for exploiting hybrid vigour to achieve improved quality.

Keywords

Hybrids, Pumpkin, Evaluation, Line x Tester.

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