Yield and quality parameters of Hokkaido type pumpkins grown in Serbia
The aim of this study was to assess a set of 40 accessions of Hokkaido type pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) in terms of the traits of agronomic importance and the basic fruit flesh quality parameters, with the emphasis on Serbian environmental conditions. The pumpkins are a part of the...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Serbian Genetics Society
2019-01-01
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Series: | Genetika |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0534-0012/2019/0534-00121902377B.pdf |
Summary: | The aim of this study was to assess a set of 40 accessions of Hokkaido type
pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) in terms of the traits of agronomic
importance and the basic fruit flesh quality parameters, with the emphasis
on Serbian environmental conditions. The pumpkins are a part of the larger
Cucurbita collection belonging to the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops
from Novi Sad, where the two-year (2016, 2017) field trial was conducted.
The accessions significantly differed in all analyzed parameters. The
average values for the traits of agronomic importance were: yield per plant
3.56 kg, fruit weight 1.84 kg, number of fruits per plant 2.03, and anthesis
date 180.29. Length of the main stem was in most cases short. Among fruit
flesh quality parameters; the average dry weight content was 11.49%, sugars
content 43.32 mg/g fresh weight, carotenoids content 50.12 mg/kg fresh
weight, proteins content 4.04 mg/g fresh weight, total soluble solids
content 8.63 °Brix, refractive index 1.347, and pH 6.98. The highest
coefficients of variation for agronomic and quality traits were those
calculated for yield per plant and carotenoids content. The pumpkins
performed better in the first season of the experiment due to more favorable
weather, firstly temperature, conditions. The most pronounced adverse effect
of high temperatures occurring in 2017 was the one expressed on the content
of carotenoids, which was on average 48.4% lower when compared to 2016.
Principal component analysis was employed to clarify the relationships among
the investigated parameters, and to distinguish those with the most
important contribution to the pumpkin variability. The analysis revealed
strong correlations among yield per plant, fruit weight and length of the
main stem. Carotenoids content and pH also correlated to yield, while the
other quality parameters correlated to each other. Defining both first and
second principal components, yield per plant and fruit weight were the
parameters with the highest contribution to the variability among the
assessed pumpkins. Concerning quality parameters, fruit flesh dry weight
contributed the most to the variability. Therefore, the strategy for
breeding Hokkaido type pumpkins adapted to Serbian environmental conditions
should be based on combining irrespectively selected high-yield and
high-quality accessions. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR 31059: New concept of breeding vegetable
varieties and hybrids for sustainable growing systems using biotechnological
methods and Grant no. TR 31005: Contemporary biotechnological approach
in resolving the problem of drought in Serbian agriculture] |
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ISSN: | 0534-0012 1820-6069 |