Genetic correlation and path coefficient analysis in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir.)

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir.) is one of the nutrient rich cucurbits which exhibits wide variability due to its monoecious nature. However, as a minor vegetable crop exploitation of variability is very meager. A field experiment on genetic, correlation and path coefficient analysis for yield and its components in pumpkin was undertaken at the Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam during 2012-2014. In total 48 pumpkin landraces were collected from farmers' fields all over Tamil Nadu. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design and replicated thrice. Eleven biometrical observations were made from randomly selected ten plants in each genotype and the mean data were used for statistical analysis. Per se performance of the genotypes showed that the line CM (P) 26 recorded the maximum vine length, number of branches vine^-1 and number of fruits vine^-1 and CM (P) 2 recorded the highest individual fruit weight and yield vine^-1 and the lowest node number of I^st female flower. The estimate of phenotypic variability and genotypic variability showed that the phenotypic variability was higher than genotypic variability for all the characters studied. The estimate of genotypic coefficient of variability and phenotypic coefficient of variability revealed that the genotypic coefficient of variability was close to the phenotypic coefficient of variability for the traits vine length, number of branches plant^-1, fruit length, fruit weight, number of fruits vine^-1 and yield vine^-1. Magnitude of heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean showed that high heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean was observed by vine length, number of branches plant^-1, days to 1^st male flower, node number of 1^st male flower, fruit length, fruit weight, number of fruits vine^-1 and yield vine^-1. Genotypic correlation coefficient showed that the trait fruit length had highly significant and positive association with yield. The other traits viz., number of branches plant^-1, days to 1^st female flower, fruit girth and fruit weight also had positive but non-significant association with yield. The traits viz., node number of 1^st male flower, days to 1^st male flower and fruit weight had direct positive effect with yield. Whereas, vine length, node number of 1^st female flower, fruit girth and number of fruits had negative direct effect with yield.