Assessment of genetic divergence in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

Authors

  • Neha College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Ajeet Singh College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Manish Kumar Singh College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Himanshu Singh College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Jayshree Singh College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Varun Dwivedi College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • S.V. Dwivedi College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India

Keywords:

Cluster, Diversity, Inter, Intra, Phenotypic variation, Divergence

Abstract

Eighteen diverse genotypes of pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata Duch expoiq.) were evaluated for phenotypical variations and
assessment of genetic diversity during the kharif season 2022 at Vegetable Research Farm, Banda University of Agriculture and
Technology, Banda, Uttar-Pradesh. Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications was used for divergence, 18 genotypes
were grouped into 4 clusters using Tocher’s method. Out of the 6 clusters, cluster I was the largest, comprising 8 genotypes, followed
by cluster III, comprising 5 genotypes, cluster IV, 4 genotypes, and cluster II with 1 genotype only. Based on distances between
clusters, i.e. inter-cluster distances, maximum divergence was observed between cluster III and cluster IV. Maximum inter-cluster
D2 values between clusters indicated that genotypes included in these clusters can be used as a parent in hybridization programme
to get higher heterotic hybrids from the segregating population. The maximum intra-cluster D2 values were observed for cluster I.
Maximum intra-cluster distance indicates that genotypes are very diverse. Presence of sufficient phenotypic and genotypic diversity
showed the scope in pumpkin for further improvement.

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Published

2025-06-13

How to Cite

Neha, Ajeet Singh, Manish Kumar Singh, Himanshu Singh, Jayshree Singh, Varun Dwivedi, & S.V. Dwivedi. (2025). Assessment of genetic divergence in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata). CURRENT HORTICULTURE, 13(2), 03–13. Retrieved from https://currenthorticulture.com/index.php/CURHOR/article/view/262

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2025): April-June

Section

Articles

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