Genetics of yield and yield components in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

An experiment was conducted during 1994-95 to study an 8 x 8 half diallel c ross of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex.Poir.) for yield and its attri buting traits at 2 locations. The pooled analysis revealed pre-ponderance o f dominance and non-additive gene action for all the characters supported b y low heritability in narrow sense. Pronounced epistasis was observed for n umber of female flowers and fruits, average fruit weight and yield/plant. O ver dominance was prevalent for all the traits. Frequent occurrence of domi nant genes among parents for vine length and flesh thickness and recessive genes for the remaining characters were indicated. Most dominant genes exer ted positive effect. However, unequal distribution of positive and negative alleles showing dominance in parents was recorded for all the characters e xcept number of primary branches/plant. Polygenic inheritance of yield and yield contributing characters were detected. Heterosis breeding was suggest ed for improvement of yield and yield components in pumpkin.