Abstract:
Traits contributing to Cucurbita moschata fruit yield were investigated to identify selection aids. Twentynine
land races were grown at two sites in Zambia during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 wet seasons. The
contribution of traits to fruit yield were partitioned by path analysis. Mid-season traits (internode with first
female flowers, length of internode with first female flowers, length of primary axis, number of primary
branches and number of leaves per plant) exhibited insignificant phenotypic (P) and genotypic (G) direct
effects (P, G <0.17) on fruit yield. The length of the primary axis, number of primary branches and number
of leaves per plant had genotypic indirect effects of intermediate magnitude on the fruit yield through the
number of fruits per plant (-0.27,0.33,0.42; respectively). Late season traits (weight of first mature fruit
and number of fruits per plant) had significant genotypic direct effects on fruit yield (G=0.67 for both
characters). Therefore, in selecting for pumpkin yield, special attention should be given to number of fruits
per plant and weight of first mature fruit of each plant.