No abstract

F 1 progenies derived from a set of diallel crosses involving native and 5 elite cucumber varieties were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications to study combining ability for some important agronomic traits. The analysis of variance revealed that the mean squares due to genotypes were significant for the traits studied, indicating wide diversity among the parents. Mean squares for general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant, implying both additive and non-additive genetic system controlling the studied traits. Significant GCA values were recorded by the native variety (Odukpani) for vegetative traits, fruit girth and average fruit weight. Low GCA values were recorded for days to flowering by the elite varieties, implying they are negative combiners for early flower influx. GCA for number of pistillate flowers and number of fruits per plant were positive and significant for the elite varieties, indicating they could be exploited in cucumber breeding programmes for improved female flower production. The high mean values for vegetative traits and days to flowering of the progenies arising from crosses with Odukpani as the maternal parent appear to suggest cytoplasmic influence in the inheritance of the traits.

The cultivation of finger millet in geo-political northern Plateau State is undertaken manually (89%) on any kind of soil (46.9%) by small holder farm families with low income (<$1.00/day), who operate at subsistence level on land area between 0.5-3 hectares. Finger millet production is constraint in the study area by non-governmental support in terms of making available improved seeds and seedlings, poor knowledge of agronomic practices such as seeding depth, plant spacing and transplanting period, pests/disease attack and prevalence of stubborn weeds such as Eleusine indica which resembles the finger millet (Elensine coracana L. Gaertn) plant. The adoption of new technologies which improved finger millet production in the study area was enhanced by farmers who had secondary education (63.45%) and many years (≥6 years) of finger millet farming experience. Finger millet which stores for over 10 years was found to have many uses and was utilized for many purposes, ranging from food and fodder, medicinal to industrial uses as well as high commercial value (N200.00/mudu); thus, it has high potential of contributing to food security and household income of the farm families in the study area.

The intensity of sex expression is important in crops, including cucumber, since sex form and flowering have direct effects on date of harvesting and yield. Two groups of cucumber comprising a native variety (Odukpani) and elite varieties (Griffaton, Poinsett, Ashley, Marketmore and Monarch) were evaluated in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Garkawa, Plateau State; to assess flowering, sex expression and some yield traits. The experimental design was randomized complete block design with the 6 cucumber varieties as the treatments, replicated five times. The two groups differed significantly (p < 0.05) in phonological, flowering and yield traits assessed. The elite varieties were superior with respect to flowering traits, as they flowered early. The intra-population hierarchical cluster analysis of quantitative traits grouped the elite varieties in one main cluster and the native variety (Odukpani) alienated as an outlier. The cluster plots showed that Odukpani was robust in vegetative growth, produced few but larger fruit size and flowering was delayed for over two weeks. Conversely, the elite varieties flowered early, produced more flowers and recorded superior number of fruits per plant. The profuse production of pistillate flowers by the elite varieties had pronounced yield advantage over the local variety. Hybridization between the two groups of cucumber would make a mark in the drive for sustainable cucumber fruit yield.