Abstract:
The research project 'Character association of seeds on plant
morphology in snakegourd (Trichosanthes anguina L.)' was carried out in College
of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the
period 1999-2000. The study envisaged to find out the association of various seed
characters on the vegetative characters of snakegourd, classification of accessions
based on the seed index, growth index and yield index as obtained from principal
component analysis and to formulate keys for varietal identification.
The 25 accessions were catalogued based on the IBPGR descriptor list.
Significant differences for various seed characters, growth characters and yield
characters were noticed among the accessions.
Correlation studies have shown that the number of seeds per fruit
strongly associated with days to male flower opening and fruit maturity. Seed size
index was strongly associated with leaf size.
The highest seed index value for TAl 08, the highest growth index
value for TA 118 and the highest yield index value for TA 114 were obtained as
revealed from principal component analysis .
. Twenty five accessions were grouped into different clusters based on
the seedindex, growth index and yield index. Based upon the seed characters (seed
size, seed coat colour and 100 seed weight), growth characters (leaf lobes, leaf
pubescence and tendril length) and fruit characters (fruit skin colour, fruit girth,
fruit length and fruit weight) keys were developed for varietal identification.
