COMBINING ABILITY AND HETEROSIS STUDIES IN MUSKMELON (Cucumis melo L.)
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Date
2009-02
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K.R.C. COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE, ARABHAVI (UNIVERSITY OF HORTICULTURAL SCIENCES, BAGALKOT)
Abstract
The investigation on combining ability and heterosis studies in muskmelon was carried out in the fields of Department of Vegetable Science of Kittur Rani Channamma college of Horticulture, Arabhavi. Totally 24 F1 hybrids were developed by crossing eight lines with each of three testers. These hybrids were evaluated along with parents and commercial check (Rasik) in randomized block design with two replications and data was subjected to line X tester analysis. Magnitude of heterosis over commercial check was very high in desirable direction for flesh thickness (75.86%), total soluble solids (70.93%), number of leaves (68.07%) at 60 days after sowing (DAS), average fruit weight (66.97%), fruit yield per vine (66.85%), total sugars (63.50%), number of leaves at 30 DAS (50.00%), β-carotene content of the fruit (48.89%), number of fruits per vine (42.69%), rind thickness (-40.42%) and fruit shape index (-40.17%). Maximum standard heterosis for fruit yield per vine was observed in the hybrid KM-7XHM (66.85%) followed by KM-6 X HM (45.50%) and KM-3 X PS (33.71%) and these hybrids were also identified as good specific combiners for fruit yield per vine. Fruit yield per vine had positive and significant correlation with average fruit weight and days to first harvest.
Among the testers, PS and among the lines, KM-3, KM-4 and KM-6 were identified as the good overall general combiners based on the comprehensive study considering gca effects for various traits. Non-additive gene action was predominant for cavity breadth, total sugars, fruit yield per vine, number of fruits per vine, flesh thickness, number of fruiting branches per vine, average fruit weight, total soluble solids, cavity length, days to first harvest, vine length at 60 DAS, β-carotene content of the fruit and number of branches at 60 DAS. It is suggested to improve these traits for combining ability through recurrent selection schemes, which ultimately helpful for increasing yield through heterosis breeding.
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TH341
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