Variability, Broad Sense Heritability Estimates and Genetic Advance for Fruit Yield and Yield Components in Cucumber (Cucumis Sativul L.) in Southeastern Nigeria (original) (raw)

2016, Variability, Broad Sense Heritability Estimates and Genetic Advance for Fruit Yield and Yield Components in Cucumber.

Seven varieties of Cucumis sativus L. were evaluated for quantitative traits performance in a randomized complete block design with three replicates, at the Research Farm of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Analysis of variance showed that the varieties were significantly different (P<0.05) in vine length, number of vines plant-1 , number of leaves plant-1 , fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight, number of fruit plant-1 and fruit yield ha-1. All the yield components with the exception of vine length had positive and highly significant (P<0.01) coefficients of correlation with fruit yield ha-1. The high genetic coefficient of variation and broad sense heritability estimates deduced for number of vines plant-1 , number of leaves plant-1 , and fruit yield ha-1 , implied that exploitable variations exist among the varieties. High heritability estimates and high genetic advance for number of vines plant-1 , number of leaves plant-1 , and fruit yield ha-1 showed that these genetic variations are controlled by additive gene effects, hence, can be transferred from parents to progenies for high genetic gain. Direct selection of varieties with higher performance in number of vines, number of leaves plant-1 and fruit yield ha-1 for breeding programme could lead to genetic improvement of C. sativus for increased production of the crop.