DETERMINATION OF THE PROPER EXPERIMENTAL PLOT SIZE IN PIPIANA SQUASH (Cucurbita argyrosperma Huber var. stenosperma)

Abstract

Considering that there is not information about the optimum plot size to evaluate pipiana squash genotypes, different plot sizes were evaluated in order to decrease the variation coefficient (CV, %). The experiments were conducted at the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, México during 2001. Five plot sizes were evaluated (2.16, 4.32, 6.48, 8.64 and 21.60 m²). The obtained information indicated that the variability among plots was reduced as the plot size increased from 2.16 to 21.60 m². San Martin location presented highest CV than San Juan in the characters: weight, length and width of seed, fruit length, thickness and flesh flavor. Plant density of 9 260 plants/hectare in the average of two locations, registered the highest variation in all characters studied, compared to the density of 13 890 plants/hectare. The different plot sizes conformed with hills of three plants were more efficient to diminish the CV than those of two plants. According with the different analyses performed for locations in average of densities, and for density on the average of locations it will be used an experimental plot size of 6.48 m² and four hills with three plants per hill for evaluation studies.