Chandni Negi, K.N. Shah, V. Singh and D.K. Rana
Abstract
An experimental study was conducted during the summer-rainy season of 2023 at the Horticultural Research Centre, Department of Horticulture, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India, to assess the genetic variability components and genotypic and phenotypic association among yield and its component characteristics in the Cucumber genotypes. Additionally, using path coefficient analysis, the study aimed to determine the impact of various component characteristics on yield, both directly and indirectly. Fifteen cucumber genotypes were evaluated for eight horticultural traits in a Randomized Complete Block Design. ANOVA showed significant differences in the genotypes for all the traits studied. In the current study phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was slightly higher than and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) that indicated corrected the characters were not influenced by environment effects. Highest coefficient of variability both at Phenotypic and genotypic levels was recorded for weight of fruit (42.80% and 40.56%) and lowest for days taken to opening of first male flower (8.55% and 7.66%). Maximum heritability was found in weight of fruit (89.79%) and moderate was found for days to first seed germination (32.84%). Highest genetic advance was observed for weight for fruit (195.47) and lowest for days to first seed germination (1.22). In terms of percentages above the genetic advance over mean (GAM) coupled with high estimates of heritability was observed for character weight of fruit, length of vine, number of fruits/ vine, length of fruit and diameter of fruit. Number of fruit per plant exhibited a highly significant and positive correlation with length of fruit (0.701,0.574) at both the genotypic and phenotypic levels, respectively. However, it exhibited a negative but highly significant correlation with days taken to opening of first male flower (-0.672, -0.576), days taken to opening of first female flower (-0.655,-0.580), diameter of fruit (-0.441,-0.358) and length of vine (-0.425,-0.398). Length of fruits had the highest positive direct effect on number of fruits/vine followed by days to first seed germination, weight of fruits and length of vine. While the characters days to opening of first male flower, days to opening of 1st female flower and dimeter of fruit exhibited a negative direct effect on number of fruit/vine. Hence, these traits can be improved by selection.