ABSTRACT

 Field experiment was conducted during the cropping season of 2017 at Umudike to evaluate and determine the most suitable plant spacing for optimum production of Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin). The experiment consisted of four treatments; 30 cm x 30 cm (T;), 40 cm x 40 cm (T;), 60 cm x 60 cm (Ty) and control (Im x Im). The experimental design 'was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three repligations. Data was collected on the main vine length, vine/collar diameter, number of leaves, and number of branches, leaf area, and number of nodes, fresh and dry weight. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using GenStat Discovery Software (20 10). Significant means were compared using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. Results showed that T. occidentalis planted at Im x Im spacing had the highest mean number of leaves and branches. This suggests that good planting distance should be used to obtain better yield in T. occidentalis production. However, findings from this study showed that number of branches and leaves per plant per plot were statistically the same in all the evaluated plant spacing of T. occidentalis under study. Findings from this study also indicates non-significant difference (P>0.05) between the planting distance on main vine lengths and collar diameter of T occidentalis. Fresh weight/yield was highest in plants spaced at I m x I m. Similarly, results also showed that dry weight/yield of T. occidentalis was highest in control, closely followed by 60 cm x 60 cm, 40 cm x 40 cm and then 30 cm x 30 cm in that order of performance respectively.