Heritability, correlation and genetic divergence for different seed traits in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

Seed is the very important input factor in any crop production programme as the success or failure of any crop mainly depends on the quality of seed. The present investigation was carried out to estimate the extent genetic variability, character association and divergence for seed yield and related traits in 76 genotypes of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir). The experimental results revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits under study. On the basis of mean performance for different seed traits, the genotypes DPU-6, DPU-51-3, DPU-57 and DPU-24 were found most promising. Further, high heritability estimates coupled with high genetic gain were observed for all the seed traits under study, which indicated that these traits are under additive gene effects and are more reliable for effective selection. The maximum PCV and GCV were observed for seed yield/plant (g) followed by 100 seed weight (g), seed area (mm(2)) reflecting presence of high genetic variability among all the genotypes for studied characters. Further, the experimental results revealed that seed area followed by seed yield per plant and 100 seed weight had maximum positive direct effect on fruit yield per plant. The maximum positive indirect effect of seed breadth, seed length, 100 seed weight and seed yield/plant via seed area was observed on fruit yield per plant. The genetic divergence observed among seventy six diverse genotypes of pumpkin revealed considerable diversity for seed traits. In the present investigation, the cluster I and cluster IV were found more divergent (9.864) and have chances of getting transgressive segregants in F-2 from crossing of genotypes from cluster I and cluster IV. Therefore, hybridization between these groups can be very effective for improvement of seed yield in pumpkin.