Phenotypic Variability of Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) Accessions From Cameroon and Implications for Breeding and Genetic Resource Conservation

Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) improvement in sub‐Saharan Africa remains constrained by the limited characterization of locally available germplasm. This study aimed to assess under uniform field conditions the phenotypic variability of seven C . sativus accessions collected from different localities in Cameroon to identify traits of potential interest for breeding. The experiment was conducted at a single site during one growing season, and 31 vegetative, phenological, and yield‐related traits were analyzed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical clustering. Significant differences ( p < 0.05) were observed among accessions for most traits, indicating substantial phenotypic variability. Traits such as fruit weight, yield, and flowering duration exhibited high broad‐sense heritability and genetic advance, indicating strong genetic control and potential for selection. The first three principal components explained 81.9% of the total variation, with male flower number, branch number, and fruit weight traits contributing most to diversity. Hierarchical clustering on principal components (HCPC) grouped accessions into three distinct phenotypic clusters, suggesting distinct trait combinations and genetic profiles. The Shannon–Weaver diversity index indicated moderate diversity among accessions, with EBEBDA showing the highest diversity index (2.82) and MONATÉLÉ the lowest (2.67). This preliminary phenotypic characterization highlights the value of local cucumber accessions as genetic resources for breeding programs and provides a foundation for future multienvironment and molecular studies.