Character association among yield and market related traits in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L.)

Abstract

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L.) is a tropical vine crop belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is third most important vegetable after water melon and cucumber in the world among cucurbitaceous vegetables. Pumpkin is a high value crop due to its long shelf life, availability for long period, high nutritional composition and great medicinal properties. Both mature and immature fruits are consumed as a vegetable. In India pumpkin is also known as Kashiphal or Sitaphal. Fruits of pumpkin provide a valuable source of carotenoid and ascorbic acid that have a major role in nutrition in the form of provitamin A and vitamin C as antioxidants (Jha et al. 2009). Besides of this, pumpkin fruits are also very good source of carbohydrate. Pumpkin endows 25.0 K cal energy, 92.6 g moisture, 1.4 g protein, 0.1 g fat, 4.6 g carbohydrates and 0.5 g of fiber per 100 g of edible portion (Sharma 2009).