Okeke, G. C. 1* , Ayuba, A. I. 1 , Ugama, G. N. 1 , Orji, P. O. 1 , Ahmodu, P. B. 2 and Askangmi
Timothy Ricwuskebnde 3
1 National
Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria.
2 Plant Science Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria.
3 Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Received 9th September 2021; Accepted 14th March 2022
ABSTRACT: Twelve genotypes of watermelon (Citrilus lanatus) sourced from different seed companies in Nigeria were evaluated to estimate the magnitude of genetic variability, relationship of some important agronomic characters and their contributions to yield under two different planting dates. The genotypes were evaluated using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Analysis of variance showed that the genotypes differed significantly (p<0.01) in all twelve parameters measured. Agronomic characterization showed there was genetic variability for genetic improvement.
Estimate of genetic parameters indicated slightly higher phenotypic to genotypic variance indicating an environmental effect on the agronomic performance of the cultivars. Estimate of coefficient of variation showed high genetic coefficient of variation in all the characters measured indicating exploitable variations among the cultivars.
All the traits were highly heritable implying that these traits are genetically controlled. High broad sense heritability (H 2bs ) was observed for number of fruits per plant (77.01%), days to 50% flowering (73.73%), fruit circumference (72.32%), fruit weight (64.18%) and fruit yield per hectare (74.81%) for first planting date and similar trend was obtained for the second planting date.
Adoption of breeding methodology such as recurrent selection could be used to improve watermelon quantitative traits as well as the productivity of the genotypes since there is an existence of genetic diversity among the genotypes as progress in breeding depends on variation.
Keywords: Genetic advance, heritability, planting date/time, variability, watermelon.