Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Regional Research Station, Bhawanipatna, 766 001
Twenty eight non-reciprocal F1 hybrids involving 8 parental lines of pumpkin were evaluated for yield and its components to assess the genetic variation and scope of improvement by selection. High PCV and GCV were observed for yield and number of fruits per plant. PCV was greater than GCV for all the traits. Moderate heritability (43.1%) along with moderately high genetic gain (43.96%) were recorded for yield/plant which could be improved by rigid selection in early generations. The characters like days to first flower anthesis, first female flowering node, flesh thickness, vine length and number of male flowers/plant manifested moderate to high heritability accompanied by low genetic gain. Improvement of these traits needs selection over several successive generations. The remaining characters showed low heritability and genetic advance. Which should not be relied upon for selection.
