Assessment of genetic variation in cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L . ) genotypes

In this research, twenty genotypes of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) were studied that were collected from different geographical regions. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications in Greenhouse. Data was collected on morphological features, yield and components of yield of cucumber which include: Total fruit yield per pickling, Fruit number per pickling, branch number per plant, plant height, distance between internode, length of branches, shoot diameter, leaf length, leaf width, fruit diameter, fruit length, plant vigor and fruit number per node. Analysis of variance showed that there was a high significant variation for all of the studied traits between genotypes. Mean comparison showed that the genotypes showed a broad phenotypic variation for studied traits, such that total fruit yield per pickling ranged from 474.3 g (Gohar) to 338.3 g (Tornado). Cluster analysis with Ward method divided the genotypes to four distinct groups. Genotypes in group number two (Gohar, Adrian451, Green majic, Sina) had the highest total fruit yield per pickling. For other traits, genotypes in groups number 1 and 2 (10 genotypes) showed best situation. Therefore, Selection of superior genotypes in view point of desirable morphologic traits, with high genetic distance could be selected for hybridization programs and recognition of best genotypes for different traits to produce new elite hybrids in cucumber.