Abstract

Combining ability studies of 5 parent partial diallel cross in F, generation of pumpkin revealed the contribution of both additive and non-additive gene action controlling the expression of yield and its components. The estimates of component variances revealed predominance of non-additive gene action for all the characters. A close correspondence was observed between per se performance and combining ability effects for the characters studied. Among parents, CM-12 ranked as the best general combiner for yield and its components followed by CM-65 and CM-14. Most of the superior specific combinations involved high x low general combiners. When per se and sca effects were considered for all the characters including yield, the crosses CM- 45 x CM-12, CM-12 x CM-64 and CM-12 x TPT Local were identified as best promising entries for yield.

Keywords: Pumpkin, Combining ability, yield components, Cucurbita moschata Duch.ex.poir