relationship between seed yield and some of fruit traits in iranian squash (cucurbita pepo l.) accissions

in order to evaluation of squash (cucurbita pepo) seed yield per fruit and its relations with other characteristics of fruit include: length, diameter, length: diameter ratio (fruit shape), flesh thickness, thousand seed weight and fruit weight, an experiment was conducted using 24 accessions of squash as a randomized complete-block design with three replications. morphological traits were evaluated according to upov descriptor and upgma clustering algorithm clustered the accessions in 4 groups (predominantly on the basis of fruit shape). correlation, regression and path analysis were done for mentioned characteristics in 4 type-fruit groups. there was negative correlation between seed yield of individual fruit and its length and fruit length: diameter ratio. but fruit weight, fruit diameter, and thousand seeds weight had positive correlation with seed yield. seed weight: fruit weight ratio had negative relationship with fruit weight. therefore small size fruit is more suitable for seed yield per area. path analysis was showed fruit weight had the most positive direct effect on seed yield per fruit in all groups.