Estimation of genetic diversity among the genotypes of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir)

The present investigation was conducted to asses the genetic divergence in the germplasm of pumpkin. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replication. Observations were taken for seventeen traits in 35 genotypes (including one check. The 35 genotypes were grouped into six distinct non-over lapping cluster. The minimum intra cluster distance (0.00) was found for the cluster II, cluster III, cluster IV, cluster V and cluster VI and maximum was found in cluster I (55.15). The maximum inter-cluster distance was found between cluster V and cluster VI (244.67) followed by cluster II and VI (231.40). The minimum inter cluster distance was found between cluster I and IV (93.70) followed by cluster I and V (93.80). Cluster I was superior for days to 50% pistillate flower anthesis, nodes per vine and fruit diameter. Cluster II showed maximum mean values for node to first staminate flower anthesis followed by equatorial circumference of fruit, polar circumference of fruit, fruit cavity and average fruit weight. Cluster III showed maximum mean values for days to 50% staminate flower anthesis and node to first pistillate flower anthesis. Cluster IV showed maximum mean values for number of primary branches, vine length and intermodal length. Cluster V showed maximum mean value for flesh thickness, number of fruit per plant and fruit yield per plant. Cluster VI showed maximum mean value for days to first fruit harvest. The higher inter-cluster distance indicated greater genetic divergence between the genotypes of those clusters. The diversity shown by the different genotypes that was identified using Mahalanobis D2 statistics for the selection of suitable diverse parents for hybridization as an important feature for any crop improvement programme for getting desired hybrids or segregates.