A Numerical Taxonomic Study of Cucurbita

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Abstract
Several statistical techniques of numerical taxonomy were studied by using 21 species ofCucurbita as models. Data were taken on 93 plant characters for 24 operational taxonomic units (OTU’s). Three similarity coefficients, Q-correlation, distance and divergence, were used to compute phenetic similarities among the 24 OTU’s. The results are summarized in the form of eight phenograms using both unweighted and weighted pair-group methods of clustering. The results obtained from the various statistical techniques were compared with cross-compatibility ratings. The distance and divergence coefficients and their respective phenogram values were more highly correlated with the cross-compatibility ratings than were the Qcorrelation coefficients and their phenogram values. However, from a subjective viewpoint, the phenograms derived from Q-correlation coefficients were in closer general agreement with a combination of biological factors including cross compatibility, geographical distribution, and ecological adaption than were phenograms derived from distance or divergence coefficients.

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