الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract A field experiment was conducted in spring season of 2013, 2014 and 2015 to study the effect of three plant densities (40, 50, 60 cm) and foliar application of ethephon (0, 300 and 500 ppm) on flowering and seed production of three squash genotypes (Cope, Shammame and Eskandrane). Genotype Cope, low planting population and 500 ppm ethephon gave the highest female flowers/plant in the first year. However, in the second year genotype Eskandrane, low planting population and 0 ppm ethephon gave the highest number of female flowers. In the third year, Cope and Shammame continued to give the highest number of female flowers/plant. The planting population failed to affect the female flowers/plant while, high ethephon concentration (500 ppm) gave significantly higher number. In addition, genotype Eskandrane, low planting density and 500 ppm ethephon gave the lowest number of male flowers/plant in both years. In the third year, Shammame ranked first for highest male flowers/plant. Different than the previous two years, the medium planting population showed higher male flowers/plant compared with low planting population. Ethephon treatments continued to reduce the number of male flowers/plant and high concentration was higher in the reduction effect. Genotype Shammame gave the highest number of fruits/plant while planting population and ethephon did not have pronounced effect on fruit number/plant. Mixed results have been observed for number of seeds/plant between the evaluating years. Cope gave the highest number of seeds as well as 300 ppm ethephon while, planting population did not have significant effect on seed number. Concerning the seed weight, Cope ranked first in seed weight while, the ethephon did not have effect on seed weight. Results will help in squash hybrid seed production of high quality. |