B. AHMED
Senior Scientific Officer
Horticulture Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur
M. A. T. MASUD Ph. D.
Principal Scientific Officer
Horticulture Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur
M. ZAKARIA
Professor
Department of Horticulture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Salna, Gazipur, Bangladesh
M. M. HOSSAIN
Department of Horticulture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Salna, Gazipur, Bangladesh
M. A. K. MIAN
Professor
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Salna, Gazipur, Bangladesh
Pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata, Inbreds, Selection, Fruit yield
The experimental farm of Olericulture Division, Horticulture Research Centre (HRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) Gazipur, Bangladesh
Crop-Soil-Water Management
The experiment was carried out at the experimental farm of Olericulture Division, Horticulture Research Centre (HRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) Gazipur, Bangladesh during October 2011 to May 2012. Nineteen pumpkin inbreds (PK01, PK02, PK03, PK04, PK05, PK06, PK07, PK08, PK09, PK10, PK11, PK12, PK13, PK14, PK15, PK16, PK17, PK18 and PK19) were used in this study. The inbreds were collected from the Olericulture Division, HRC, BARI. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The land was first opened by mouldboard plough. Three times harrowing were applied to pulverize the soil followed by laddering to have a good tilth. All types of weeds and debris of the previous crop (spinach) were removed. The unit plot size was 2 m × 10 m and the plots were raised by 10 cm from the ground level. Five pits of 50 cm × 50 cm × 30 cm size were prepared in each plot at a spacing of 2 m plant to plant by keeping 60 cm width drain between the plots. About 25 cm deep drain was dug around the plot. Seeds were sown in 9 cm diameter polyethylene bags. The growth medium was prepared by mixing compost and soil in 50: 50 proportion. Intensive care was taken for healthy seedling production. Twenty-five days old seedlings were transplanted in well prepared experimental plot. The seedlings were watered immediately after transplanting. Fertilizers were applied @ 5000-78-35-75-18-4.3-2 kg/ha of cowdung-N-P-K-S-Zn-B. The sources of N, P, K, S, Zn and B were urea, TSP, MoP, gypsum, zinc sulphate and boric acid (medicated) respectively (Anon, 2012). The entire amount of cowdung, P, S, Zn, B and 1/3rd K were applied during pit preparation as basal dose before 10 days of transplanting. The rest amount of K was applied in two equal installments at 20 and 35 days after transplanting (DAT). N was applied in four equal installments at 7, 20, 35 and 50 DAT. Necessary intercultural operations such as irrigation, weeding, mulching pits etc were done during the crop period for proper growth and development of the plants. Control measure was taken against red pumpkin betel by spraying Ripcord @ 1ml/liter of water overseeding once per week for 2 times. At fruiting stage, sex pheromone traps and meshed sweet gourd traps were set up in a density of 5m2 /trap to control the infestation of fruit fly. The fruits were harvested when the fruit stalk dried and shriveled. Data were collected from five mature fruits from all the plants of inbreds. Data on different characters were recorded based on the descriptors for pumpkin developed by the International Board of Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR). The recorded data for different characters were analyzed using software Statistic 10 and means were separated by DMRT at 1 % level of probability.
ISSN 0258-7122 (Print), 2408-8293 (Online); Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 42(1): 1-11, March 2017
Journal