Investigation of gene effects on fruit shape index and seed size in generations resulting from the crossing of Zucchini and hull-less seed Pumpkin

Sima Davoodi,Jamalali Olfati,Atefeh Sabouri,Babak Rabiei

doi:10.1007/s10681-021-02911-y

Abstract

Fruit shape index (round shape) and seed size have important effects on pumpkin yield. To investigate these traits and to create the most desirable state, a cross was made between two pumpkin cultivars. This study aimed to estimate the main gene effects (additive, dominant and di-genic epistasis) and to determine the mode of inheritance for fruit shape and seed size by generation mean analysis. Six generations, namely P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1, and BC2 from a cross between Zucchini and hull-less seed Pumpkin, S10 × P25, were constructed and evaluated for fruit length, fruit width, fruit shape index, and some seed-related traits (seed length, seed width, and seed thickness). The experiment was conducted in the research field of the Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran in 2019. Results showed a significant difference between generations in terms of fruit and seed traits. Scale and joint scale tests showed the presence of epistasis for some traits. According to the results of the average traits of different generations, standard heterosis and hetrobeltiosis were observed. Concerning the fruit shape index and seed width, there was a dominance effect. The broad-sense heritability of the traits was relatively high for all traits and between 52 and 94%. Narrow sense heritability was between 26 and 90% and relatively low for the fruit shape index and seed width. Therefore, selection of elite lines and production of their hybrids are recommended as two methods suitable for breeding to achieve a round shape index and a larger seed size.

Highlights

Pumpkin is a plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, which according to the latest classification statistics includes 118 genera and 825 species (Jeffrey et al 1990)
Pumpkins have a long history of consumption and are used for many purposes, especially for seed
The results of the analysis of variance demonstrated a significant difference between the six generations for all studied traits at the probability level 1% (Table 2); in other words, the genetic analysis and review of their inheritance were possible

Summary

Introduction

Pumpkin is a plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, which according to the latest classification statistics includes 118 genera and 825 species (Jeffrey et al 1990). Pumpkin has a rich and long history in terms of cultivation and domestication and unique diversity in terms of morphological characteristics, the shape of the fruit and has a wide range of adaptation in cultivation (Savage et al 2015). Pumpkins have a long history of consumption and are used for many purposes, especially for seed. Pepo) is one of the species whose plants have limited growth. The seeds of this squash have a uniform cream color; its leaves are multi-lobed with rough hairs on the leaves. Its flowers are characterized by short, thick, and conical flags (Decker-Walters and Walters 2000)

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Results