ASSESSMENT OF COMBINING ABILITY, HETEROSIS AND GENETIC VARIANCE FOR FRUIT QUALITY CHARACTERS IN MUSKMELON (CUCUMIS MELO L.)

Abstract

Combining ability, heterosis, and genetic variance for yield, maturity, and plant characters in muskmelon (Cucumis mew L.) were estimated through the use of six·par2nt dlaliel during 1984-85. The sea· variance exceeded gca for all the traits. Durgapur Madhu was the best general combiner for fruit yield. Punjab Sunehri had exceptional gca for the traits associated with earliness, and WMR 29 combined well for vine length. Favourable heterosis over midparent was observed for fruit yield, fruit number, fruit weight, fruit bearing branches, node of first female flower, days to harvest, and vine length. The estimates of dominance variance exceeded those of additive variance revealing overdominance for most of the traits.