Studies on important of qualitative and quantitative characters in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

Abstract

Investigation were undertaken to study genetic variability, correlations, gene action, combining ability and heterosis for important economic characters in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). For this purpose 45 muskmelon genotypes were evaluated in addition to a 10x10 diallel cross analysis. Among the 20 characters studied, yield per plant showed maximum variability followed by average weight per fruit, main stem length, internodal length and ascorbic acid content. High estimates of genotype coefficients of variation were observed for fruit netting, sutures and shape index. The association of yield per plant was positive with number fruits, average weight per fruit, number of nodes on main stem, main stem length, internodal length, number of primary branches and fruit shape index. But the yield was negatively correlated with TSS, ascorbic acid and dry matter which in turn were found to be positively associated among them. Narrow-sense heritability was also low to moderate for these characters. Therefore, reciprocal recurrent selection and biparental mating could be successfully used. Parents ‘Arka Rajhans’, ‘Hara Madhu’ and ‘Arka Jeet’ were good general combiners for most of the characters. The cross ‘Arka Jeet x UFG 515’ exhibited the highest percent (111.4) of heterosis over better parent. For quality characters, the range of heterosis was low. The cross, ‘Main stream x Arka Rajhans’ exhibited significant heterosis over mid-parental value (39.6%) and nonsignificant heterosis over better parent (25.2%). Both the parents of this cross carry genes for resistance to powdery mildew and in addition ‘Main stream’ carries genes for field tolerance to downy mildew. Hence, there is scope for further evaluation to select desirable segregants. The dominance of orange fruit colour over yellow, white flesh over orange and green, green flesh over orange and white seed coat over yellow was observed.