Path analysis of fruit yield components of cucurbita moschata Duch.

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.