ABSTRACT.

The present report is on the evaluation of five germplasm accessions of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) in Umuahia. Five local accessions of fluted pumpkin were collected in Umuahia North and lkwuano Local Government Areas of Abia State based on differences on pod characteristics. The accessions (treatments) were studied in a randomised complete block field experiment with four replications. Six seeds per treatment were planted in five plots (raised beds) measuring 4m x 3m. The seeds were planted at a spacing of 1 m between and within rows. The accessions were evaluated with respect to five agronomic characters, namely: total harvestable or marketable yield (leaf + vine + inflorescence), leaf weight, vine weight, number of branches, and number of leaves. Analysis of variance revealed that there were no significant differences among the five accessions studied with respect to total harvestable yield (leaf + vine + inflorescence), vine weight, number of branches and number of leaves. The five accessions were, however, significantly different from each other with respect to leaf weight at p <0.05. The accession with the highest leaf weight had green pod. It was concluded that pod colour could be used in indirectly selecting for leaf yield in T. occidentalis. Cultivars with green pods are expected to outyield those with other pod colours.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Certification. ii

Dedication. iii

Acknowledgments. iv

Abstract. v

Table of contents. vii

List of tables. viii

List of figures. ix

Abbreviations used. x

CHAPTER ONE: Introduction.

1.1 History and Taxonomy. 1

1.2 Botany and Agronomy. 2

1.3 Utilization. 6

1.4 Objectives of the study. 9

CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review.

2.1 Genetic diversity in Telfaiiia occidentalis. 10

CHAPTER THREE: Materials and Methods.

3.1 Climatic condition. 14

3.2 Experimental design and layout. 14

3.3 Data collection. 16

CHAPTER FOUR: Results.

4.1 General observations. 22

4.2 Agronomic characters. 22

CHAPTER FIVE: Discussion.

References.