Genotype × environment interaction and stability analysis for yield and biochemical traits in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir.)

The present investigation was conducted with aim to know the interaction of genotype with environment of parents (6) and their off-springs (15) developed through diallel mating design excluding reciprocals. The trials were conducted during Kharif, 2015 (E1), Rabi, 2015-16 (E2) (Off-season), Zaid (summer season,) 2016 (E3). The observations were recorded for twenty one traits (14 yield & yield attributing traits and 7 biochemical traits). The present study revealed that the mean squares due to environment + G×E, environment linear, genotype × environment and G×E linear were found significant for all traits except G×E for average fruit weight and G×E linear for flesh thickness. The present investigation revealed that the Kharif and Summer-season favourable for most of the traits studied. The top five stable F1/genotypes on the basis of per se performance, phenotypic index and S2di were Narendra Upkar (P1) × Kashi Harit (P5), NDPK-39-2 (P4) × NDPK-11-3 (P6), Narendra Agrim (P3) × Kashi Harit (P5), Narendra Upcar (P1) × NDPK-120 (P2), NDPK-39-2 (P4) × Kashi Harit (P5) for maturity traits and NDPK-39-2 (P4) × NDPK-11-3 (P6), Narendra Upkar (P1) × Kashi Harit (P5), Narendra Upkar (P1) × NDPAK-120 (P2), Narendra Agrim (P3) × Kashi Harit (P5), Narendra Upkar (P1) ×NDPK-39-2 (P4) for fruit yield per plant, number of fruits per plant and other yield attributes while, crosses namely, P2 × P3, Narendra Upcar (P1) × NDPK-39-2 (P4), NDPK-120 (P2) × Kashi Harit (P5), Narendra Upkar (P1) × NDPK-120 (P2), Narendra Upkar (P1) × Narendra Agrim (P3) for biochemical traits. The present study further revealed that the top five stable genotypes for any of the characters are only F1 rather than either of parental line/varieties which reveals that F1 are more stable than the parental lines/varieties. Hence it can be concluded that F1s are more suitable for stable performance under varying environmental condition than the parental lines/varieties. Thus, F1s should prefer for cultivation under changing/adverse environmental condition for high and stable yield for secure production in future.