Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Marketable Leaf Yield in Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) Across Two Locations

Twenty five fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) genotypes were grown at two locations (Abeokuta and Akure) in a randomized complete block design with three replications during the rainy season of year 2013 to evaluate genotypic and phenotypic character association and path analysis of marketable leaf yield. The mean squares of the combined analysis of variance revealed significant genotypes, locations and genotype x environment (location) interactions (GEI) on most of the characters. Genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than phenotypic correlation coefficients in most cases. Vine length, number of leaves, number of branches, leaf fresh weight, vine fresh weight and vine girth correlated positively (genotypic and phenotypic) with marketable leaf yield in both locations. Path analysis indicated that vine length, leaf area and leaf width imparted significant direct influence on marketable leaf yield and hence these traits could be used as selection criteria for improved marketable leaf yield. Significant GEI caused differences in the results of correlation and path analyses obtained across the two locations. Therefore, selection based on result of a single location or single season trial could be misleading because of the effect of GEI.