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Pod portiion and type effects on sex, growth and yield in fluted pumpkin


PE Ogbonna

Abstract

Fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis Hook) is a native of West Africa and a perennial vine but cultivated as annual crops under the traditional farming system of West Africa. A study was conducted at the experimental farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to determine the effect pod portion and
pod type of fluted pumpkin on sex ratio, growth and yield in the crop. Seeds obtained from three portions (head, middle and tail) of three pod types (1, 2, and 3) were planted out in a 3 x 3 factorial in randomised complete block design with 3 blocks. The relative percentages of male and female plants plot-1 obtained from seeds from the head,
middle and tail portions were 31.5 and 68.5, 28.5 and 71.5, and 31.7 and 68.3, respectively. For the pod types 1, 2 and 3, the relative percentages of male and female plants plot-1 were 27.2 and 72.8, 25.1 and 74.1, and 39.3 and 60.7, respectively. The highest percentage of female plants was obtained from seeds from middle portion of pod
type 2. Mean number of sprouts seeds-1 was 1.2 in head portion and 1.1 in both the middle and tail portions; while it was 1.0, for pod type 1, and 1.2 for pod type 2 and 3. Number of pods ha-1 and weight of pod ha-1 were 15,922 and 39,000 kg ha-1, 13,699 and 43,000 kg ha-1; and 12,588 and 45,000 kg ha-1 for the head, middle and tail
pod portions, respectively. For pod types, values of 13699 and 38000 kg ha-1, 16289 and 43000 kg ha-1, and 12,222 and 46000 kg ha-1 were recorded from type 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Positive correlation exited between percentages of female plants plot-1 and vine length plant-1, leaves plant-1, pods ha-1, and weight of pod ha-1.
Negative correlation occured with sprouts seed-1, branches plant-1 and pod weight. Number of sprouts seed-1 also had a positive association with branches plant-1, leaves plant-1, percentage of male plants, weight of pods ha-1, and pod weight.

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eISSN: 2072-6589
print ISSN: 1021-9730