ABSTRACT

 A field experiment was conducted in the Eastern Research Farm of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Uinudike, to investigate the effect of seed size 011 the agronomic characteristics of fluted pumpkin (Te/airia occidental/s Hook f.). The experiment was laid out on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) having three treatments and seven replications. The three treatments were: i) Treatment 1 (Ti)- heavy seeds, ii) Treatment 2 (T2)- medium weight seeds and iii) Treatment 3 F3)- light weight seeds. The seven replications were made up of seven pods. The three treatments were evaluated with respect to nine agronomic characteristics, namely; i) Days In emergence, ii) Establishment count (3 weeks after transplanting, iii) Number of leaves per plant, iv) Number of branches per plant, v) Fresh vegetable weight (kg), vi) Stem girth (cm), vii) Leaf area (cm2), viii) Shoot length (cm) and Lx) Number of pods per plant. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA technique. Where treatments dif1ired significantly from each other, the affected means were separated using Fisher's LSD test. The results obtained showed that there were no significant differences among the three Ireatinents with respect to shoot length per plant; number of leaves per plant, fresh vegetable weight, leaf area, and nmnber of pods per plant. Plants raised from heavy seeds, on one hand, however, were different from those raised from the medium weight seeds and the light weight seeds, on the other hand, with respect to some parameters. 1-leavy seed plants had thicker stems than the medium arid light seed plants (5%). There was no significant difference between medium arid light seed plants in respect of stem girth. Plants raised from heavy as well as medium weight seeds recorded higher establishment counts (3 weeks after transplanting) than those raised from light seeds (5% p). Heavy and medium seeds emerged earlier than the light seeds (l%p). There were no significant differences between the heavy and medium seed plants with respect to days to emergence. There were no significant differences between the heavy arid medium seeds. Since plants raised from heavy, medium, and light seeds did not differ from each other in respect of the economic yield parameters, namely fresh vegetable weight and number of pods, it is therefore concluded that famers could sow seeds of any weight category and end up with the same results.