Study on correlation and path coefficient analysis for certain quantitative traits in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Introduction

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a significant vegetable crop in the Cucurbitaceae family, with a chromosomal number of 2n=14. It holds high economic value and is widely cultivated, particularly in India, covering 40,900 hectares with an average yield of 15.63 VRCU-23-15-B, sourced from various regions across India and preserved at the Main CRC-3 Turari in the Department of Horticulture at ITM University, Gwalior (M.P). Performed in the summer of 2014 using three replications and a Randomized Block Design, the experiment aimed to evaluate the performance of these germplasms. Each row contained five plants, with the experiment replicated three times. Sowing took place on October 2, 2023, with a gap of 50 cm and 2.5 cm between rows between plants, resulting in a net plot size of 3 x 2.5 meters. Standard agronomic practices and plant protection measures were implemented to ensure a healthy crop five randomly chosen plants per germplasm were used for data collection in each replication. The following characteristics were of particular interest: the number of nodes to the anthesis of the initial staminate bloom, the number of nodes the quantity of pistillate flowers that anthesis before the first days to the first fruit harvest, the average length and diameter of fruits (cm and cm), the number of fruits per plant, the average weight of fruits (g), the total fruit yield per plant (kg), and the length of the vine (m). characteristics' correlations at the phenotypic (p) and genotypic (g) levels were analyzed according to Searle (1961) [9] , while path coefficient analysis followed the method of Dewey and Lu (1959) [3] .

Results and Discussion

The correlation coefficient, which expresses the extent to which association between two characteristics or variables, was helpful in this case in determining the kind and strength of the relationship that exists between fruit production and its constituent parts (Tables 1 &2). For most traits, the phenotypic correlation coefficients were sign and nature reflected by the corresponding genotypic correlation coefficients. In contrast to their phenotypic counterparts, genotypic associations were typically stronger in magnitude. This study found a phenotypic association that is both extremely significant and positive between the quantity of fruits and fruit output per plant produced, with average fruit weight, days to first fruit harvest, days to the first pistillate flower anthesis, node number to the first pistillate flower anthesis, and average fruit diameter following. Important and the quantity of nodes leading to the anthesis of the first staminate flower showed the strongest positive relationships. These were followed by the average fruit length and the duration until the anthesis of the first staminate bloom. Similar results with sponge gourd and pumpkin have been reported by Singh (2006) [12] and Kumaran et al. (1998) [4] , respectively. Route coefficient and correlation analysis in cucumber germplasm showed that the average fruit weight, fruit output was significantly positively influenced by the number of fruits per plant, the number of days till the first fruit harvest, and other factors. plant, while it exhibits a straight negative relationship between the number of nodes and average fruit length to the anthesis of the initial staminate bloom. Mohanty (2001) [6] provides support for the current findings in pumpkin. The immediate consequences of the residual component qualities could be inconsistent in how they present themselves when the environment changes and could be heavily impacted by environmental factors. In the case of bitter gourd, Rajput et al. (1996) [8] , Sharma and Bhutani (2001) [11] , and Shah and Kale (2002) [10] in the case of ridge gourd all corroborate the current findings. Days to the first fruit harvest had an indirect beneficial impact on fruit yield, Despite this, the number of nodes and the amount of days until the first staminate flower anthesis had a beneficial indirect effect. The average fruit weight and the number of fruits that each plant yields. The acronyms for fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, and fruit yield per plant are FL, FD, NOFPP, and DTFFH, respectively. The node number to the first staminate and pistillate flower appearance is NNTFSFA, while the days to the first staminate and pistillate flower anthesis are DTFSFA and DTFPFA, respectively.

Conclusion

Top genotypes V6, V7, V11, V12, V13, V15, and V16, demonstrate significant differences in The number of nodes at which the first pistillate bloom appears, the number of staminate flower anthesis days, and the number of staminate flower anthesis nodes Plant height (cm), internodal length (cm), fruit production per plant (kg), average fruit weight (Grammes), number of fruits per plant, days till first fruit harvest, fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (mm), and days till first fruit harvest. As an outcome, larger yields can be obtained through heterosis breeding or recurrent SCA selection. The same investigation must be carried out for one or two seasons utilizing promising genotypes to determine the stable expression of the features and the future hybridization programmer. The genetically diverse genotypes can be utilized as mapping populations to detect molecular diversity and to find molecular markers associated with desirable features for marker assisted selection (MAS).

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgmentThe work on cucumber mentioned in this publication has been supported by research and teaching faculty of Department of Horticulture, ITM University Gwalior (M.P.).

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