GENETICS OF SOME IMPORTANT CHARACTERS USING LINE X TESTER ANALYSIS IN MUSKMELON

Abstract

Sixty Fl hybrids involving three females, viz. M 221, M 225 and W 321 and twenty males were produced in muskmelon (Cucumis melo) in a line X tester design. Eight economic characters contributing to earliness, fruit yield and sweetness were studied. Analysis of variance for combining ability revealed thatMS due to gca lines (except TSSO/.), gca testers and sca hybrids were highly significant for all the characters studied. Magnitude of gca lines was greater compared to the other two components. W 321 among lines and H 172 among testers were good general combiners for majority of characters. Among the crosses, M 221 X N 231, M 225 X A 102,M 225 XM 224, M 225 X F 143,W321 X M 222 and W321 X N 233 combined well to produce significant desirable sca effects for days to picking, yield per plot and TSS%. Cross W321 X N 233 outyielded Punjab Hybrid (check) by more than 50% and was also significantly earlier than Punjab Hybrid.