Variation in seed yield components of buffalo gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima HBK.) grown as an annual

Summary Phenotypic variation for parameters of seed yield were examined in 57 buffalo gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima HBK.) plants cultivated as annuals. Among the 52 individuals which bore fruit, seed weight/plant was highly variable (cv=106%); the majority of plants exhibited seed yields below that of the mean (431 g/plant). Values of seed weight/plant were more highly influenced by fruit/plant (r=+0.81) than by seed weight/fruit (r=+0.19). Variation in fruit/plant % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiaacIcaceWG4b% GbaebacqGH9aqpcaaIYaGaaGimaiaaicdacaqGNbGaae4oaiaabcca% caqGJbGaaeODaiaabccacaqG9aGaaeiiaiaabodacaqG3aGaaeyjai% aabMcaaaa!454B!\(\bar x = 56; cv = 115\% )\] was greater than that displayed for seed weight/fruit and their distribution was also highly skewed. High fruit yields were associated with the duration (in nodes) of the fruiting period (r=+0.64).Values for seed weight/fruit were also highly divergent % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabiGaciaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiaacIcaceWG4b% GbaebacqGH9aqpcaaIYaGaaGimaiaaicdacaqGNbGaae4oaiaabcca% caqGJbGaaeODaiaabccacaqG9aGaaeiiaiaabodacaqG3aGaaeyjai% aabMcaaaa!454B!\(\bar x = 200{\text{g; cv = 37\% )}}\], but considerably less variable than those for fruit/plant or seed weight/plant. A weak relationship existed between fruit/plant and seed weight/fruit (r=–0.28), suggesting the possibility of their simultaneous improvement through selection. Seed weight/fruit was positively associated with fruit size, seed/fruit and 100-seed weight; 4 carpellate fruit displayed significantly greater seed weight/fruit and seed/fruit than 3 carpellate fruit.Journal Paper No. 4219 of the University of Arizona Agric. Expt. Sta., Tucson, AZ 85721, U.S.A.