Abstract:
The present investigation on "Divergence studies in pumpkin
(Cucurbita moschat a Poir ) was conducted at the College of Horticulture
, Vellanikkara, Trissur during June 1988 - Marc h 1989.
Seventy one pumpkin genotypes collected from different part of India and abroad were utilized for the study. The extent of variability
and divergence among 50 selected genotypes were assessed
and grouped into 5 clusters based on Mahalanobis D2 statistic .
Cluster I, II, III, I V and V contained 2, 7, 9, 12 and 20 genotypes
respectively y . Intercluster distance was maximum between clusters I
and II and was minimum between clusters III and V . Cluster I showed maximum average intercluster distance with any other cluster.
Screening 71 genotypes for resistance/ tolerance to pumpkin
mosaic and yellow vein mosaic diseases revealed that all genotypes
except C M 214 were susceptible. Artificial inoculation studies
confirmed immunity of C M 214 (Nigerian I oca l ) to pumpkin mosaic
virus and yellow vein mosaic virus .
