Germplasm Collection and Genetic Diversity Characterization of Squash (Cucurbita Moschata Duchesne Ex Lam) Based on Multivariate Analysis of Quantitative and Qualttative Attributes

Abstract This research was focused on the evaluation of agro-morphological attributes of twenty-four accessions of Squash, Cucurbita moschata obtained from Abia, Benue, Cross River Ebonyi, Edo and Enugu States. Plant length, internode length, petiole length, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, flesh thickness, mature seed number, aborted seed number, leaf area, flower number and leaf number were evaluated. Data generated from the study for growth and yield attributes were analyzed using PAST 3 software for analysis of Variance, Principal Components Analysis, Correlation Coefficient Analysis and genetic distances-based similarity indices of the accessions. The results indicated that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) among the accessions in most of the growth and yield attributes evaluated. The best performing accessions were Abia creamy and Abia brown varieties which showed high performances in all growth and yield parameters evaluated. The Enugu 4 accession showed the least performance in most of the growth and yield attributes evaluated. Results of the variation in growth traits showed significant difference in all the growth attributes except stalk length. Also there was significant variation (P < 0.05) in yield attributes. Results of the Principal Components Analysis of the growth parameters showed that flower number, aborted seed number, fruit length, leaf number, fruit texture, flesh texture, flesh colour and secondary colour contributed to the total variation. Results of Correlation Analysis between quantitative and qualitative attributes showed that mature seeds correlated positively, strongly and significantly with fruit colour, flesh colour, flesh texture and colour pattern. Fruit diameter was found to be positively, strongly and significantly correlated with fruit texture, flesh texture, colour pattern, predominant colour and secondary colour. The hierarchical numeric cluster analysis classified the quantitative and qualitative traits in the 24 accessions into 2 major clusters with most of the accessions having similar quantitative attributes in cluster one and those accessions with similar qualitative traits in cluster two. It was concluded that Abia creamy and Abia brown were the most adaptable varieties from the results due to their high performances in all growth and yield parameters evaluated and thus recommended for farmers in this Agro-ecology of Calabar. Moreso, Abia creamy and Abia brown which showed high relatedness and performances can be used to improve Enugu brown with low performance by cross breeding to enhance performance for food security.