Genetic analysis of yield and yield components in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract

On study was carried out, to estimate heterosis, heritability, genetic advance, gene action, gene action and study the inheritance pattern of qualitative characters in cucumber. Among the F1 hybrids evaluated, IIHR-101 X IIHR-34 exhibited an appreciable amount of desirable heterotic effects for most of the yield contributing characters viz., total yield per plant, average fruit weight, fruit number per vine, fruit length, fruit girth, flesh thickness and number of branches per plant. Hybrid IIHR-81 x IIHR-82 showed positive heterotic effects for only fruit length and flesh thickness. Whereas negative heterotic effect was observed for days to first female flower opening, days to first fruit harvest and nodal position of first female flower. Both highest heritability and genetic advance were observed in hybrid IIHR-101 x IIHR -34 for flesh thickness and vine length whereas, IIHR-81 x IIHR-82 cross combination was observed for total yield per plant., number of fruits per vine and average fruit weight. Most of the yield contributing traits in hybrid IIHR-101 x IIHR -34 was under the control of dominance gene action hence, it would be beneficial to emphasize heterosis breeding. In cross IIHR-81 x IIHR-82 most of the traits were under the influences of both additive and non additive gene action hence, reciprocal recurrent selection would be beneficial. In the cross IIHR-82 X C. sativus var. C. hardiwickii, it has been conspicuous that bitter principle was under the control of single dominant gene and one can isolate non bitter plant from segregating generation as a inbred line to utilize in the hybridization.