Study of Genetic Variability in Cucumber

Twenty three genotypes of cucumber along with two checks (Pant Khira-1 and Pant Khira3) were studied for extent of genetic variability, character association and path coefficient analysis with respect to yield and yield contributing traits at Vegetable Research Center, NDUAT, Faizabad. Analysis of variance indicated substantial variability among the progenies for all the traits. Highest genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was exhibited by number of fruits per plant (54.22 and 55.93, respectively) and lowest in days to first fruit harvest (8.75 and 10.05, respectively). High heritability with high genetic advance (GA) was observed for fruit yield per plant followed by number of fruits per plant, which is an indicative of greater proportion of additive genetic variance and consequence a high genetic gain from selection. Correlation analysis revealed that number of fruits per plant had significant positive correlation for fruit yield/plant. Path analysis revealed that number of fruits per plant had highest positive direct effect on fruit yield/plant followed by average fruit weight on fruit yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level indicating for greater emphasis on these traits during selection for improvement of yield.