Genetical Studies on Economical Traits of Some Squash Hybrids (Cucurbita pepo, L.) [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The present investigation aimed to study heterosis and nature of gene action controlling the economic traits of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo, L.) under two locations. The results showed that the mean squares due to locations (L), genotypes (G) and genotypes×locations interaction (G×L) were significant for all studied traits, indicating the differentially response of these traits from location to another. The results indicated that the majority of F1 hybrids were significantly earlier and high yielding than their mid parents. In this respect, the crosses (P3×P5), (P1×P5) and (P2×P5) showed the largest desirable heterotic estimates of -19.77%, -11.84% and -18.85% toward earliness for days to the first female flower (D1st FF), days to the first male flower (D1st MF) and days to the first picking (D1st P), respectively. Moreover, the cross combination (P4×P5) exhibited the maximum heterotic values of 67.51%, 24.08%, 32.13%, 16.91% and 82.69% for number of fruit per plant (No.F/P), fruit length (Fl cm.), fruit diameter (FD cm.), fruit weight (FW gm.) and fruit yield per plant (FY/P kg), respectively. Estimates of general combining ability effects (gi) of each parents indicated that P1, P3 and P4 possessed more desirable additive genes to improve studied traits.

Summary in Arabic.

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