Heterosis studies for growth, flower and yield characters in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.)

Abstract

Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) is an easily cultivated plant belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is native to the New World, particularly from southern Mexico to Peru and is widely cultivated across tropical and temperate regions. Despite its crop potential, economic importance and medicinal uses, the present study was undertaken using eight parents to develop 28 F1 hybrids in half diallel pattern. Evaluation of hybrids along with their parents revealed that the cross combinations Australian Green x Green Dark, Bellary local x Australian Green and Green Dark x Latto showed highest negative heterosis for the flowering characters such as days to first female flowering, days first harvest and days to 50 Percent plants to flower and positive heterosis was observed for characters such as plant height, number of branches, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits per vine, average fruit, fruit yield per vine, fruit yield per plot and fruit yield per hectare which were supercilious for earliness and yield parameters. Based on its yield potential and favoured earliness characteristics, the Australian Green x Green Dark hybrid was chosen as the best hybrid out of 28 cross combinations, with a yield of 96.34t/ha with 142.10 Percent of standard heterosis. Hence the best hybrids are recommended for commercial exploitation of heterosis.