Morpho-Physiological and Nutritional Characterization of Cucurbita moschata Genotypes: Implications for Breeding under Uniform Field Conditions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v13i11.3211-3217.7912Keywords:
Breeding, Cucurbita moschata, Genotypic variation, Pollen viability, Mineral compositionAbstract
Cucurbita moschata is a nutritionally and medicinally important crop grown across various agroecological zones. This study aimed to evaluate genotypic variation in morphological traits, pollen viability and germination, and mineral composition of fruits and seeds under uniform field conditions. The experiment was conducted during the 2022 growing season in Adana, Türkiye, using four genotypes, including the commercial cultivar Arıcan-97. Morphological assessments covered vegetative, floral, and fruit characteristics. Pollen viability (dark red + pink colour) ranged from 80% to 85%, while in vitro germination rates were between 9% and 12%, showed significant genotypic differences. Elemental analysis indicated that macroelements such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium were more concentrated in the fruit flesh, whereas seeds showed higher levels of microelements including iron and zinc. Although conducted at a single location and season, the findings underscore the role of genotypic selection in improving yield potential and nutritional quality in C. moschata. In particular, the observed variation in fruit morphology, pollen traits, and mineral composition highlights the potential of local genetic resources to inform targeted breeding strategies. These results also support the conservation and sustainable use of C. moschata germplasm in future cultivar development programs.
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