Assessment of Parental Lines and F1 Hybrids for Yield and Associated Traits in Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. ex Poir.)

The present investigation was carried out to obtain information based on per se performances of parents and their combinations for genetic improvement in pumpkin. Fifteen (12 line & 3 tester) promising genotypes were crossed in a line and tester manner (excluding reciprocals). Line & tester set of 36 F1’s in pumpkin was evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design (RBD) with three replications for fourteen traits during Zaid 2023-24 (Y1) and 2024-25 (Y2). The study evidently showed highly significant differences being observed for most of the traits under study. Based on per se performance, The parent Narendra Upkar (9.19 Kg) exhibited highest fruit yield per plant followed by NDPK-23-7 (8.82Kg), VRPK-2362(8.76Kg), VRPK-2307-02 (8.57Kg) and VRPK-2375 (8.54Kg). Among the hybrids, the highest fruit yield per plant exhibited by VRPK-2362 x Narendra Agrim (13.84Kg) followed VRPK-2307-02 x Narendra Upkar (12.56Kg), NDPK-23-7 x Narendra Amrit (12.10 Kg), VRPK-23303 x Narendra Agrim (11.97Kg) and VRPK-2372 x Narendra Upkar (11.23Kg) in descending order.