" GENETIC VARIABILITY IN MUSKMELON (cucumis melo L.) "

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Date
2003-06-30
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MAHATMA PHULE KRISHI VIDYAPEETH, RAHURI - 413722, DIST. AHMEDNAGAR, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
Abstract
Fifty one muskmelon genotypes obtained from different geographic regions were evaluated to study the nature and extent of genetic divergence and correlation among different characters. A high degree of variation was observed in respect of all the character studied. The estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation were low as compared to phenotypic coefficient of variation. The highest genotypic as well as phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for economically important characters such as average weight of fruit followed by fruit cavity and number of fruits per vine. The characters viz., diameter of fruit, pulp thickness, length of fruit, weight of fruits per vine, PDI for downy mildew and virus, showed high heritability. While the characters average weight of fruit, fruit cavity and number of fruits per vine recorded high percentage of genetic advance along with higher estimates of heritability indicating additive gene effects in their inheritance and scope for selection. High heritability coupled with medium or low genetic advance as exhibited by length of fruit, diameter of fruit, pulp thickness is attributable to the non additive gene effects. This indicates that hybridization followed by selection will be effective for genetic improvement. The estimates of genotypic correlations, in general, were slightly higher than phenotypic correlation, indicating minimum effect of environment on the expression of characters. The weight of fruits per vine showed positive correlations with average weight of fruit, pulp thickness, fruit cavity, weight of seeds per fruit, at genotypic level. Thus, these characters can be considered as yield contributing characters in muskmelon. Positive and significant correlation showed with average weight of fruit, pulp thickness and PDI at phenotypic level. Significant and negative correlation showed with days to first harvest and T.S.S. at genotypic level. The number of fruits per vine showed significant and negative correlation with average weight of fruit, length of fruit, diameter of fruit, pulp thickness, fruit cavity, weight of seeds per fruit, F : C ratio and weight of 100 seeds. D analysis showed wide genetic divergence among the genotypes of muskmelon with D values ranging from 58.04 to 12736.76. Fifty one genotypes were grouped in seven cluster divergence and cluster mean a tentative breeding programme has been suggested for improving the various economic characters of muskmelon. The genotypes 212, 400, 196, 71-3, 55-1 and 259 hold promise as potential parents in developing improved muskmelon hybrids.
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