Agro-morphological, nutritional variability and heritability studies of Lagenaria siceraria landraces in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Date
2019
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley of the Cucurbitaceae family is one of many
underutilised ancient cultigens with great economic potential. Its nutritious tender
shoots, flowers, fruits, and seeds are of culinary use and widely consumed in rural
communities as a vegetable relish. It has abundant nutrients and minerals essential for
human health. However, research on morphological and nutritional variation among L.
siceraria landraces from South Africa is very marginal. Therefore, the objective of this
study was to characterise variability in growth, yield and nutritional composition among
L. siceraria landraces from northern KwaZulu-Natal. L. siceraria landraces with various
fruit and seed morphology, collected from different agro-ecological areas of northern
KwaZulu-Natal were grown in a randomised complete block design with three
replications over two summer seasons. Seedling, vegetative and reproductive traits
were compared among landraces, while pulp of the mature fruit was analysed for
nutrient composition. Analysis of variance, correlation, principal component analysis,
cluster analysis and heritability estimates were conducted on morphological traits and
nutrient content. Landraces with different fruit and seed morphology, from different
areas varied significantly in seedling, vegetative and reproductive traits as well as
nutrient content. Significant positive correlations were mainly recorded among
reproductive traits and also among the majority of nutrients. The first five and three
informative principal components were responsible for 74.393% and 80.270% of the
total variability in morphological traits and nutrient composition, respectively. First
components (PC1) with 26.635% and 42.076% variability were positively associated
with most of morphological traits and nutrients, respectively. In morphological trait and
nutrient analyses, biplot and dendrogram grouped landraces mainly according to fruit
and seed morphology and then their origin. High heritability estimates were recorded
among fruit and seed traits as well as among various nutrients. Therefore, this study
can be the foundation for strategic improvement, direct production or conservation of
the Lagenaria siceraria using these landraces.
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science in the Department of Botany, Faculty of Agriculture and Science at the University of Zululand, 2019.
Keywords
Heritability studies, Lagenaria siceraria landraces, Agro-morphological, nutritional variability