Correlation and Path Analysis for Yield and Its Contributing Traits in Summer Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.)

A popularly grown cucurbit for its dietary and economic benefits is Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), a nutritionally significant vegetable. Scince yield-related features are polygenic and strongly interact with environmental factors, there is limited potential for yield improvement in this crop. This study used a randomized complete block design with three replications to assess 40 different summer squash genotypes at SKUAST-Kashmir during Kharif 2024. In order to determine genotypic and phenotypic correlations, as well as direct and indirect impacts through route coefficient analysis, statistical studies were conducted on data pertaining to 17 yield and yield attributing parameters. At the genotypic level, the results showed that fruit production per hectare showed substantial and positive relationships with fruit yield per plant, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, fruit length, and flesh weight. Fruit yield per plant was found to have the most direct positive contribution to yield, followed by fruit length and flesh weight. On the other hand, rind thickness, node of the first male flower and number of days until the first fruit harvest showed negative direct effects, according to path analysis. According to the modest residual effect (0.024), the chosen features accounted for the majority of the yield variability. These results imply that direct selection for fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and fruit production per plant would be useful methods for developing summer squash cultivars with large yields.