Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding
Combining ability studies of an 8-parent diallel cross of pumpkin revealed contribution
of both additive and nonadditive gene action controlling the expression of yield and
its components except average fruit weight which was exclusively regulated by
nonadditive gene effect. Epistasis was pronounced for all the characters. A close
correspondence was observed between per se performance and combining ability effects
for the attributes studied. Among parents, Pusa Vishwas ranked as top general combiner
for yield and its components followed by Baidyabati and Ambili. Higher yield was
mainly associated with increased number of fruits/plant, average fruit weight and
flesh thickness. Most good specific combinations involved high x low general combiners.
Exploitation of heterosis appeared to be limited. Ten crosses were identified for
developing high yielding genotypes of pumpkin with other desirable characters.
Keywords: Cucurbita moschata, pumpkin, combining ability, yield components
Year: 2000
Volume: 60
Issue: 3
Article DOI: NA
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906
B. K. MOHANTY info_circle
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