Breeding for gynoecious hybrid development in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
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Date
2021-07
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Department of Horticulture (Olericulture), BAU, Sabour
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Breeding for gynoecious hybrid development in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)” was carried out during 2018-2019 in two seasons (Zaid - Season I & Kharif - Season II). Field experiments were performed at the Vegetable Research Farm, Bihar Agricultural College, BAU, Sabour, whereas lab experiments were laid out in the Department of FS & PHT, BAU, Sabour. Five genetically diverse parental lines namely BRGCU-4, BRPCU-8, BRGCU-10, BRCU-1 and Punjab Naveen were crossed to develop 20 F1 hybrids following diallel mating design (including reciprocals). These hybrids along with parents and check hybrids (Don and Malini) were assessed in an experiment following RBD with three replications for 13 quantitative traits. All the recommended agronomic practices were followed to raise a healthy and successful crop. The gynoecious lines were maintained by spraying silver thiosulphate @ 300 ppm at 2 - 4 leaf stage. In each replication per treatment five plants were randomly selected for observations on plant, fruit and yield characters on individual plant basis. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference among the genotypes for the traits under study. The identification of suitable parental lines and F1 crosses is important for the genetic improvement of crops. In view of these facts, the diallel set of five parents and their consequent ten direct crosses and ten reciprocals were subjected to assess combining ability by following Griffings’ (1956)-method I and model I approach. BRCU-1, BRGCU-10 and BRPCU-8 emerged as good general combiners for most of the economic traits, based on an overall assessment of GCA effects and per se performance. Today the concept of heterosis is fundamental towards increased crop production. Maximum positive standard heterosis over both check Don (43.70 %) and Malini (40.05 %) were shown by the hybrids (BRGCU-10 × BRCU-1) followed by the hybrids BRCU-1 × BRGCU-10 and BRCU-1 × BRPCU-8. The investigation on post-harvest studies of gynoecious hybrids discusses various factors that can significantly affect the maintenance of quality in fresh cucumber during storage. In season I and season II, among the hybrids lowest physiological loss in weight was registered in gynoecious hybrid BRGCU-10 × BRGCU-4 (4.61 % and 4.83 %, in season I and II respectively) at the end of storage period. Highest values of firmness were observed in the hybrid BRGCU-10 × BRGCU-4 and BRGCU-4 ×BRCU-1 in season I and season II, respectively. Hybrid BRPCU-8 × Punjab Naveen in season I and BRGCU-10 × BRPCU-8 exhibited highest value of TSS in season II. From the foregoing findings it can be concluded that the heterosis estimates helps in selecting the best cross combinations for various yield and quality traits. Hybrid (BRGCU-10 × BRCU-1) followed by the hybrids BRCU-1 × BRGCU-10 and BRCU-1 × BRPCU-8 were the best being highly heterotic and having significant SCA effects in respect of yield and component traits. Overall, the findings of this study would be beneficial for farmers’ income enhancement since developed gynoecious based hybrid will reduce the cost of hybrid seed production drastically as compared to monoecious hybrids.