In this study, seed yield production and its different components fruit
length, fruit diameter, fruit length/fruit diameter ratio (FL/FD), diameter
of flesh, diameter of seed core, fruit weight, weight of 1000 seed from 24
lines of pumpkin grown in Iran was examined. Twenty-five characters in all
plant lines were measured by Descriptor (UPOV) and data were subjected to
cluster analysis. Results showed that plants lines were divided in four
groups. In all groups, regression comparisons were made for modeling the
effect of different characters on seed yield, results also showed that fruit
weight and fruit length in all groups had the most direct effect on seed
yield. In conclusion, these traits are suggested as the best indirect
selection criteria to improve the seed yield genetically in Cucurbita spp.
genotypes especially in preliminary generation of breeding and selection
programs.