The analysis of variance for genotypes showed significant differences for all the characters. The estimates of mean sum of squares due to parents showed significant differences for all the characters except for days to first harvest, sex ratio and rind thickness indicating the presence of sufficient variability among the parents studied. The magnitude of variance due to sca was greater than gca for all the characters and gca: sca less than unity also confirmed the preponderance of non-additive gene action for all the traits. This result is expected as muskmelon as cross pollinated crop thus exhibiting predominance of dominance genetic variance in comparison to additive component. These results are in same line with those obtained by Bayoumy et al. (2014) in melon.
The estimates of gca effects of each parents are presented in Tables 1 and 4. Among the three testers, no one tester showed significant and positive gca effects for fruit yield per vine, the three lines exhibited positive and significant gca effects and highest was observed in the line KM-10 (0.77) followed by KM-1 (0.68) and KM-2 (0.33). The parent KM-10 was found to be good general combiner for number of fruits per vine and estimated fruit yield per hectare these results are in agreement with Vashisht et al., 2010 and Bayoumy et al., 2014.
Table 1
General combining ability effects of parents for growth, earliness, yield and yield parameters in muskmelon
SI.
NO.
|
Lines
|
Vine length at 90 DAS
|
Number of leaves on 60 DAS
|
Number of branches at 60 DAS
|
Days to first flowering
|
Days to first female flowering
|
Node to first female flower
|
Days to first harvest
|
Sex ratio
|
No of fruiting branches per vine
|
No of fruits per vine
|
Average fruit weight
|
Fruit yield per vine
|
Fruit yield per plot
|
Fruit yield per hectare
|
1
|
KM-1
|
13.81**
|
16.82**
|
1.01**
|
-3.06**
|
-6.11**
|
-1.02**
|
-5.69**
|
-1.75**
|
2.38**
|
0.61**
|
134.15**
|
0.68**
|
6.81**
|
3.78**
|
2
|
KM-2
|
12.28**
|
18.69**
|
0.81**
|
-1.99**
|
-4.21**
|
-1.32**
|
-6.49**
|
-0.72*
|
2.08**
|
0.44*
|
20.96**
|
0.33*
|
3.32*
|
1.85*
|
3
|
KM-3
|
-4.72**
|
2.19
|
0.15
|
1.27*
|
-1.68*
|
-0.32
|
-1.32
|
0.05
|
-0.18
|
-0.19
|
-12.20**
|
0.04
|
0.36
|
0.20
|
4
|
KM-4
|
-4.34**
|
-4.84**
|
0.05
|
-0.36
|
-1.78*
|
0.32
|
4.61**
|
0.31
|
-0.32
|
-0.26
|
41.21**
|
-0.16
|
-1.61
|
-0.89
|
5
|
KM-5
|
-1.39
|
-30.71**
|
-0.59**
|
0.07
|
9.39**
|
0.15
|
2.78**
|
1.60**
|
-0.78
|
-0.19
|
22.28**
|
0.00
|
-0.01
|
-0.01
|
6
|
KM-6
|
-13.85**
|
-5.91**
|
-0.92**
|
3.11**
|
7.39**
|
1.18**
|
5.38**
|
1.21**
|
-2.12**
|
-0.76**
|
-37.29**
|
-0.35*
|
-3.51*
|
-1.95*
|
7
|
KM-7
|
-11.53**
|
-14.88**
|
-0.79**
|
2.11**
|
3.45**
|
0.62**
|
1.15
|
0.74*
|
-1.08
|
-0.19
|
-117.32**
|
-0.68**
|
-6.79**
|
-3.77**
|
8
|
KM-8
|
1.21
|
1.62
|
0.25
|
-1.16*
|
-3.35**
|
-0.12
|
-1.19
|
-0.72*
|
0.62
|
0.34
|
14.52**
|
0.15
|
1.51
|
0.84
|
9
|
KM-9
|
-20.17**
|
-13.58**
|
-1.32**
|
2.81**
|
2.89**
|
1.42**
|
6.51**
|
1.27**
|
-2.98**
|
-0.59**
|
-176.66**
|
-0.78**
|
-7.76**
|
-4.31**
|
10
|
KM-10
|
18.26**
|
22.59**
|
1.15**
|
-2.79**
|
-5.98**
|
-0.92**
|
-5.75**
|
-1.98**
|
2.38**
|
0.81**
|
110.36**
|
0.77**
|
7.69**
|
4.27**
|
|
SEm±
|
0.668
|
0.882
|
0.122
|
0.362
|
0.523
|
0.136
|
0.651
|
0.231
|
0.396
|
0.144
|
2.553
|
0.112
|
1.114
|
0.619
|
CD at 5%
|
1.93
|
2.55
|
0.35
|
1.05
|
1.51
|
0.39
|
1.88
|
0.67
|
1.14
|
0.42
|
7.39
|
0.32
|
3.22
|
1.79
|
CD at 1%
|
2.60
|
3.44
|
0.47
|
1.41
|
2.04
|
0.53
|
2.53
|
0.90
|
1.54
|
0.56
|
9.96
|
0.43
|
4.34
|
2.41
|
Testers
|
1
|
PS
|
-5.95**
|
-3.07**
|
-0.39**
|
-0.81*
|
-1.82**
|
-0.12
|
-1.67**
|
-0.59**
|
0.66*
|
0.29*
|
-25.43**
|
0.14
|
1.41
|
0.79
|
2
|
HM
|
-4.83**
|
-6.28**
|
-0.36**
|
0.39
|
1.46**
|
-0.05
|
1.25*
|
0.29
|
-0.52
|
-0.22
|
-2.84
|
-0.16
|
-1.59
|
-0.89
|
3
|
DK
|
-1.12*
|
-3.21**
|
-0.04
|
0.42
|
0.35
|
0.17
|
0.42
|
0.30
|
-0.15
|
-0.08
|
-22.58**
|
0.02
|
0.18
|
0.10
|
|
SEm±
|
0.366
|
0.483
|
0.066
|
0.198
|
0.286
|
0.074
|
0.356
|
0.127
|
0.217
|
0.079
|
1.400
|
0.061
|
0.610
|
0.339
|
CD at 5%
|
1.06
|
1.40
|
0.19
|
0.57
|
0.83
|
0.22
|
1.03
|
0.37
|
0.63
|
0.23
|
4.05
|
0.18
|
1.76
|
0.98
|
CD at 1%
|
1.43
|
1.88
|
0.26
|
0.77
|
1.12
|
0.29
|
1.39
|
0.49
|
0.85
|
0.31
|
5.46
|
0.24
|
2.38
|
1.32
|
*and** indicate significance of values at p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively. DAS: Days after sowing and PS: Punjab Sunheri HM: Hara Madhu DK :Durga Kranti |
Among the lines KM-1 (-6.11) and among the testers PS (-1.82) exhibited highest negative and significant gca effects for days to first female flower appearance. Highest significant gca effects for days to first harvest was observed in the parent KM-2 (-6.49) among the lines and among the testers, observed in the PS (-1.67). The parents viz., KM-1,KM-2, KM-3 and PS exhibited the significant and negative gca effects for both days to first female flower appearance and days to first harvest so, these parents may be used in breeding programme for earliness. These results are in agreement with Vashisht et al., 2010 and Bayoumy et al., 2014.
For vine length at 90 DAS, three lines showed positive and significant gca effects. The highest gca effects was observed in the line KM-10 (18.26) followed by KM-1 (13.81) and KM-2 (12.28), none of the testers exhibited positive and significant gca effects. The female parents KM-10 (22.59), KM-2 (18.69) and KM-1 (16.82) had positive significant gca effects for number of leaves at 60 DAS and none of the testers showed significant positive gca effects and for number of branches at 60 DAS, three lines had significantly positive gca effects. Maximum positive gca effects was observed in the line KM-10 (1.15) followed by KM-1 (1.01) and KM-2 (0.81) Among the testers no one tester showed significant positive gca effects. The average fruit weight in the line KM-1 (134.15) exhibited maximum and significant gca effects. The parents KM-1, KM-2 and KM-10 exhibited significant gca effects for the most of the traits. Due to predominant role of non-additive gene action for yield and its components, it is difficult to bring together desirable genes by pedigree method. In this situation formation of central gene pool by bringing together the multiple parents having the good gca effects suggested by Jensen (1970) might prove to be useful.
The crosses having desired significant specific combining effects are presented in Tables 2, 3 and 5. Out of 30 crosses, four crosses exhibited positively significant sca effects for fruit yield per vine. Highest and significantly positive sca effects was observed in the cross KM-3 x PS (0.73) followed by KM-2 x PS (0.67) and KM-6 x PS (0.60). Maximum positive and significant sca effects was found in the cross KM-9 x DK (22.29) followed by KM-2 x PS (18.80) and KM-3 x PS (16.31) For vine length at 90 DAS. The highest positive and significant sca effects were exhibited by the cross KM-3 x PS (20.33) followed by KM-2 x PS (14.13) and KM-1 x DK (12.56) for number of leaves per vine at 60 DAS. Number of branches was maximum and significant sca effects were exhibited by KM-3 x PS (1.67) followed by KM-2 x PS (1.21) and KM-4 x DK (1.20). Days to first female flower appearance, in the cross KM-5 x PS (-8.82) followed by KM-6 x PS (-7.72) and KM-7 x HM (-6.66) exhibited negative and significant sca effects. Among the crosses, four crosses exhibited significant and negative sca effects and maximum being observed in the cross KM-4 x DK (-1.54) followed by KM-6 x PS (-1.31) and KM-3 x PS (-1.21) for node to first female flowering. The highest negative and significant sca effects was observed in the cross KM-3 x PS (-6.73) followed by KM-9 x DK (-5.25) and KM-2 x PS (-4.76) for days to first harvest. These results are in agreement with Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996 and Vashisht et al., 2010. A comparison of the sca effects of the crosses and gca effects of the parents involved indicated that most of the cases gca effects were reflected in the sca effects of the cross combination.
Table 2
Specific combining ability effects of crosses for growth and earliness parameters in muskmelon
Sl. No.
|
Crosses
|
Vine length at 90 DAS
|
Number of leaves on 60 DAS
|
Number of branches at 60 DAS
|
Days to first flowering
|
Days to first female flowering
|
Node to first female flower
|
Days to first harvest
|
Sex ratio
|
1
|
KM-1 × PS
|
-17.89**
|
-11.80**
|
-0.79*
|
1.81*
|
3.68**
|
0.89*
|
4.44**
|
1.44*
|
2.
|
KM-1 × HM
|
2.71
|
-0.75
|
0.16
|
-1.96*
|
-2.40
|
-0.28
|
-2.08
|
-0.26
|
3.
|
KM-1 × DK
|
15.18**
|
12.56**
|
0.64*
|
-0.42
|
-1.29
|
-0.60
|
-2.35
|
-1.18*
|
4.
|
KM-2 × PS
|
18.80**
|
14.13**
|
1.21**
|
-1.39
|
-4.02**
|
-0.21
|
-4.76**
|
-1.92**
|
5.
|
KM-2 × HM
|
-8.04**
|
-8.92**
|
-0.64*
|
1.24
|
2.40
|
0.12
|
1.42
|
0.82
|
6.
|
KM-2 × DK
|
-10.76**
|
-3.21
|
-0.56
|
0.71
|
1.61
|
0.10
|
3.35*
|
0.76
|
7.
|
KM-3 × PS
|
16.31**
|
20.33**
|
1.67**
|
-3.32**
|
-4.75**
|
-1.21**
|
-6.73**
|
-1.58**
|
8.
|
KM-3 × HM
|
0.81
|
-2.62
|
-0.18
|
0.28
|
0.17
|
-0.28
|
-0.75
|
0.31
|
9.
|
KM-3 × DK
|
-17.12**
|
-17.71**
|
-1.50**
|
3.05**
|
4.58**
|
1.50**
|
7.48**
|
1.61**
|
10.
|
KM-4 × PS
|
3.02
|
6.06**
|
0.07
|
-1.49
|
0.45
|
-0.05
|
-2.96
|
-0.38
|
11.
|
KM-4 × HM
|
-7.96**
|
-1.79
|
-1.28**
|
3.51**
|
5.17**
|
1.58**
|
2.72
|
1.32*
|
12.
|
KM-4 × DK
|
4.94**
|
-4.28
|
1.20**
|
-2.02*
|
-5.62**
|
-1.54**
|
0.25
|
-0.93
|
13.
|
KM-5 × PS
|
-7.02**
|
-7.27**
|
0.01
|
0.28
|
-8.82**
|
0.42
|
1.77
|
-0.32
|
14.
|
KM-5 × HM
|
5.40**
|
4.28
|
-0.04
|
-2.32*
|
3.60**
|
-0.55
|
1.55
|
-0.43
|
.15.
|
KM-5 × DK
|
1.63
|
2.99
|
0.04
|
2.05*
|
5.21**
|
0.13
|
-3.32*
|
0.74
|
16.
|
KM-6 × PS
|
14.81**
|
8.53**
|
0.84**
|
-5.46**
|
-7.72**
|
-1.31**
|
-3.33*
|
-1.64**
|
17.
|
KM-6 × HM
|
-2.97
|
-1.72
|
-0.21
|
2.44**
|
3.10*
|
0.42
|
2.65
|
0.23
|
18.
|
KM-6 × DK
|
-11.84**
|
-6.81**
|
-0.63*
|
3.01**
|
4.61**
|
0.90*
|
0.68
|
1.41*
|
19.
|
KM-7 × PS
|
3.48*
|
5.80*
|
0.01
|
4.84**
|
11.52**
|
-0.35
|
3.00
|
0.25
|
20.
|
KM-7 × HM
|
-0.20
|
-12.75**
|
0.56
|
-2.56**
|
-6.66**
|
-0.22
|
-2.82
|
-0.64
|
21.
|
KM-7 × DK
|
-3.29
|
6.94**
|
-0.56
|
-2.29*
|
-4.85**
|
0.56
|
-0.19
|
0.40
|
22.
|
KM-8 × PS
|
-7.68**
|
-10.40**
|
-1.43**
|
2.91**
|
5.52**
|
1.39**
|
3.54*
|
2.33**
|
23.
|
KM-8 × HM
|
5.03**
|
6.15**
|
0.82**
|
-1.59
|
-3.16*
|
-0.48
|
-2.48
|
-1.15*
|
24.
|
KM-8 × DK
|
2.65
|
4.26
|
0.60*
|
-1.32
|
-2.35
|
-0.90*
|
-1.05
|
-1.17*
|
25.
|
KM-9 × PS
|
-17.04**
|
-22.40**
|
-1.06**
|
2.44**
|
2.78*
|
0.25
|
3.74**
|
1.20*
|
26.
|
KM-9 × HM
|
-5.25**
|
9.95**
|
0.09
|
0.24
|
0.50
|
-0.02
|
1.52
|
0.35
|
27.
|
KM-9 × DK
|
22.29**
|
12.46**
|
0.97**
|
-2.69**
|
-3.29*
|
-0.24
|
-5.25**
|
-1.56**
|
28.
|
KM-10 × PS
|
-6.80**
|
-2.97
|
-0.53
|
-0.06
|
1.35
|
0.19
|
1.30
|
0.63
|
29.
|
KM-10 × HM
|
10.48**
|
8.18**
|
0.72*
|
0.14
|
-2.73*
|
-0.28
|
-1.72
|
-0.54
|
30.
|
KM-10 × DK
|
-3.68*
|
-5.21*
|
-0.20
|
-0.09
|
1.38
|
0.10
|
0.41
|
-0.08
|
|
SEm±
|
1.157
|
1.528
|
0.210
|
0.627
|
0.905
|
0.235
|
1.127
|
0.400
|
|
CD at 5 %
|
3.35
|
4.42
|
0.61
|
1.81
|
2.62
|
0.68
|
3.26
|
1.15
|
|
CD at 1 %
|
4.51
|
5.96
|
0.82
|
2.44
|
3.53
|
0.92
|
4.39
|
1.56
|
*and** indicate significance of values at p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively. DAS: Days after sowing PS: Punjab Sunheri HM: Hara Madhu DK : Durga Kranti |
Table 3
Specific combining ability effects of crosses for yield and yield parameters in muskmelon
Sl. No.
|
Crosses
|
Number of fruiting branches per vine
|
Number of fruits per vine
|
Average fruit weight
|
Fruit yield per vine
|
Fruit yield per plot
|
Fruit yield per hectare
|
1
|
KM-1 × PS
|
-1.96
|
-0.83*
|
-95.57**
|
-0.39
|
-3.91
|
-2.17
|
2
|
KM-1 × HM
|
0.22
|
0.28
|
122.21**
|
0.05
|
0.54
|
0.30
|
3
|
KM-1 × DK
|
1.75
|
0.54
|
-26.64**
|
0.58*
|
5.62*
|
3.21*
|
4
|
KM-2 × PS
|
1.94
|
0.74*
|
28.59**
|
0.67*
|
6.72*
|
3.73*
|
5
|
KM-2 × HM
|
-0.08
|
-0.35
|
-39.16**
|
-0.15
|
-1.47
|
-0.82
|
6
|
KM-2 × DK
|
-1.85
|
-0.39
|
10.57
|
-0.53
|
-5.25
|
-2.91
|
7
|
KM-3 × PS
|
2.70**
|
0.97**
|
143.36**
|
0.73*
|
7.29*
|
4.05*
|
8
|
KM-3 × HM
|
-0.22
|
0.48
|
67.44**
|
-0.08
|
-0.76
|
-0.42
|
9
|
KM-3 × DK
|
-2.49*
|
-1.46**
|
-210.80**
|
-0.65*
|
-6.53*
|
-3.63*
|
10
|
KM-4 × PS
|
0.04
|
0.64
|
62.31**
|
0.20
|
2.01
|
1.11
|
11
|
KM-4 × HM
|
-1.98*
|
-0.85*
|
-149.26**
|
-0.46
|
-4.59
|
-2.55
|
12
|
KM-4 × DK
|
1.95
|
0.21
|
86.94**
|
0.26
|
2.59
|
1.44
|
13
|
KM-5 × PS
|
-0.40
|
-0.63
|
157.41**
|
-0.32
|
-3.15
|
-1.75
|
14
|
KM-5 × HM
|
2.38*
|
0.88*
|
-265.37**
|
0.25
|
2.46
|
1.37
|
15
|
KM-5 × DK
|
-1.99*
|
-0.26
|
107.96**
|
0.07
|
0.69
|
0.38
|
16
|
KM-6 × PS
|
1.84
|
0.84*
|
149.34**
|
0.60*
|
6.01*
|
3.34*
|
17
|
KM-6 × HM
|
-0.08
|
-0.55
|
-106.78**
|
-0.17
|
-1.74
|
-0.97
|
18
|
KM-6 × DK
|
-1.75
|
-0.29
|
-42.56**
|
-0.43
|
-4.27
|
-2.37
|
19
|
KM-7 × PS
|
0.30
|
-0.23
|
-201.39**
|
-0.34
|
-3.36
|
-1.87
|
20
|
KM-7 × HM
|
-1.72
|
-0.12
|
256.12**
|
-0.09
|
-0.91
|
-0.50
|
21
|
KM-7 × DK
|
1.41
|
0.34
|
-54.73**
|
0.43
|
4.27
|
2.37
|
22
|
KM-8 × PS
|
-2.20*
|
-0.66
|
-266.00**
|
-0.99**
|
-9.86**
|
-5.48**
|
23
|
KM-8 × HM
|
1.38
|
0.25
|
132.72**
|
0.51
|
5.14
|
2.86
|
24
|
KM-8 × DK
|
0.81
|
0.41
|
133.28**
|
0.47
|
4.72
|
2.62
|
25
|
KM-9 × PS
|
-1.90
|
-0.63
|
47.78**
|
-0.03
|
-0.30
|
-0.16
|
26
|
KM-9 × HM
|
-0.52
|
-0.32
|
-16.39*
|
-0.09
|
-0.94
|
-0.52
|
27
|
KM-9 × DK
|
2.41*
|
0.94*
|
-31.39**
|
0.12
|
1.24
|
0.69
|
28
|
KM-10 × PS
|
-0.36
|
-0.23
|
-25.85**
|
-0.15
|
-1.45
|
-0.81
|
29
|
KM-10 × HM
|
0.62
|
0.28
|
-1.53
|
0.23
|
2.26
|
1.26
|
30
|
KM-10 × DK
|
-0.25
|
-0.06
|
27.37**
|
-0.08
|
-0.82
|
-0.45
|
|
SEm±
|
0.686
|
0.250
|
4.426
|
0.192
|
1.929
|
1.072
|
|
CD at 5 %
|
1.98
|
0.72
|
12.80
|
0.56
|
5.58
|
3.10
|
|
CD at 1 %
|
2.67
|
0.97
|
17.25
|
0.75
|
7.52
|
4.18
|
*and** indicate significance of values at p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively. PS: Punjab Sunheri HM: Hara Madhu DK : Durga Kranti |
Table 4
General combining ability effects of parents for quality parameters in muskmelon
SI.
NO.
|
Lines
|
Fruit shape index
|
Flesh thickness
|
Rind thickness
|
Cavity length
|
Cavity breadth
|
Total soluble solids
|
Total sugars
|
β-carotene content
|
1
|
KM-1
|
0.26**
|
0.31**
|
-0.05*
|
0.56*
|
0.05
|
-0.37
|
0.04
|
198.66**
|
2
|
KM-2
|
0.02
|
0.04
|
-0.06**
|
0.43
|
0.54*
|
2.47**
|
1.67**
|
-0.77
|
3
|
KM-3
|
0.08
|
-0.21*
|
-0.01
|
-0.54*
|
-0.60*
|
0.98**
|
0.89**
|
-22.91**
|
4
|
KM-4
|
-0.01
|
0.18
|
0.00
|
-0.34
|
0.52*
|
1.44**
|
0.85**
|
-30.38**
|
5
|
KM-5
|
0.12*
|
0.44**
|
-0.06**
|
0.40
|
0.51*
|
0.57
|
-1.01**
|
-81.91**
|
6
|
KM-6
|
-0.07
|
-0.42**
|
0.03
|
-0.39
|
-1.27**
|
1.20**
|
0.72**
|
65.08**
|
7
|
KM-7
|
-0.09*
|
-0.10
|
0.08**
|
-0.07
|
0.15
|
-1.36**
|
-1.11**
|
-158.27**
|
8
|
KM-8
|
-0.16**
|
-0.04
|
0.04
|
-0.06
|
0.69**
|
-1.79**
|
-1.18**
|
-28.90**
|
9
|
KM-9
|
-0.19**
|
-0.44**
|
0.04
|
0.03
|
-0.03
|
-2.75**
|
-2.01**
|
-56.89**
|
10
|
KM-10
|
0.06
|
0.24*
|
-0.02
|
-0.02
|
-0.56*
|
-0.40
|
-0.87**
|
116.29**
|
|
SEm±
|
0.033
|
0.074
|
0.016
|
0.185
|
0.170
|
0.226
|
0.170
|
3.626
|
CD at 5%
|
0.09
|
0.21
|
0.05
|
0.53
|
0.49
|
0.65
|
0.49
|
10.49
|
CD at 1%
|
0.13
|
0.29
|
0.06
|
0.72
|
0.66
|
0.88
|
0.66
|
14.13
|
Testers
|
1
|
PS
|
0.01
|
0.12
|
-0.01
|
-0.03
|
0.17
|
0.27
|
0.20
|
43.38**
|
2
|
HM
|
-0.01
|
-0.04
|
0.02
|
0.33*
|
0.06
|
-0.40*
|
-0.16
|
-13.15**
|
3
|
DK
|
0.00
|
-0.08
|
-0.01
|
-0.30*
|
-0.23
|
0.13
|
-0.04
|
-30.23**
|
|
SEm±
|
0.018
|
0.040
|
0.009
|
0.101
|
0.093
|
0.124
|
0.093
|
1.987
|
CD at 5%
|
0.05
|
0.13
|
0.03
|
0.29
|
0.27
|
0.36
|
0.27
|
5.74
|
CD at 1%
|
0.07
|
0.16
|
0.04
|
0.39
|
0.36
|
0.48
|
0.36
|
7.74
|
*and** indicate significance of values at p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively. DAS: Days after sowing and PS: Punjab Sunheri HM: Hara Madhu DK :Durga Kranti |
Table 5
Specific combining ability effects of crosses for quality parameters in muskmelon
Sl. No.
|
Crosses
|
Fruit shape index
|
Flesh thickness
|
Rind thickness
|
Cavity length
|
Cavity breadth
|
Total soluble solids
|
Total sugars
|
β-carotene content
|
1
|
KM-1 × PS
|
-0.30**
|
-0.68**
|
0.04
|
-1.06*
|
0.10
|
-0.47
|
-0.21
|
190.08**
|
2.
|
KM-1 × HM
|
0.19*
|
0.08
|
0.01
|
0.55
|
-0.92*
|
2.03**
|
1.12*
|
14.54
|
3.
|
KM-1 × DK
|
0.11
|
0.60**
|
-0.05
|
0.50
|
0.82
|
-1.56**
|
-0.91*
|
7.94
|
4.
|
KM-2 × PS
|
-0.12
|
0.87**
|
-0.06
|
-0.81
|
-0.40
|
1.08
|
1.45**
|
-22.48*
|
5.
|
KM-2 × HM
|
0.07
|
-0.63**
|
0.05
|
-0.06
|
-0.16
|
-0.87
|
-0.16
|
-107.17**
|
6.
|
KM-2 × DK
|
0.05
|
-0.24
|
0.01
|
0.87
|
0.56
|
-0.21
|
-1.45**
|
-82.91**
|
7.
|
KM-3 × PS
|
-0.09
|
0.87**
|
-0.10
|
1.12*
|
1.73**
|
2.33**
|
1.61**
|
65.49**
|
8.
|
KM-3 × HM
|
0.02
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.18
|
-0.42
|
-2.29**
|
-1.60**
|
-9.71
|
9.
|
KM-3 × DK
|
0.06
|
-0.87**
|
0.10
|
-1.31**
|
-0.68
|
-0.04
|
0.15
|
-55.78**
|
10.
|
KM-4 × PS
|
0.10
|
-0.16
|
-0.02
|
-0.89
|
-1.01*
|
-0.87
|
-1.03*
|
-9.14
|
11.
|
KM-4 × HM
|
-0.21*
|
-0.71**
|
0.07
|
-0.44
|
-0.06
|
-0.58
|
-0.14
|
105.52**
|
12.
|
KM-4 × DK
|
0.11
|
0.87**
|
-0.05
|
1.33**
|
1.08*
|
1.45*
|
1.17**
|
-96.38**
|
13.
|
KM-5 × PS
|
0.20*
|
-0.14
|
0.09*
|
-0.10
|
0.37
|
-1.32*
|
-1.06*
|
45.85**
|
14.
|
KM-5 × HM
|
-0.20*
|
-0.04
|
-0.02
|
-0.49
|
0.20
|
0.16
|
0.39
|
16.57
|
.15.
|
KM-5 × DK
|
0.00
|
0.18
|
-0.07
|
0.59
|
-0.57
|
1.16*
|
0.67
|
-62.42**
|
16.
|
KM-6 × PS
|
0.36**
|
0.23
|
0.04
|
1.94**
|
0.28
|
-1.55**
|
-1.44**
|
40.65**
|
17.
|
KM-6 × HM
|
-0.17*
|
-0.12
|
-0.04
|
-0.14
|
0.40
|
2.05**
|
1.65**
|
-46.24**
|
18.
|
KM-6 × DK
|
-0.19*
|
-0.11
|
-0.01
|
-1.81**
|
-1.31**
|
-0.50
|
-0.21
|
5.59
|
19.
|
KM-7 × PS
|
-0.13
|
-0.85**
|
0.00
|
-1.66**
|
-1.65**
|
2.64**
|
2.32**
|
-78.62**
|
20.
|
KM-7 × HM
|
0.17*
|
0.58**
|
0.06
|
1.03*
|
0.87*
|
-2.01**
|
-1.92**
|
16.43
|
21.
|
KM-7 × DK
|
-0.03
|
0.28
|
-0.06
|
0.63
|
0.77
|
-0.63
|
-0.40
|
62.18**
|
22.
|
KM-8 × PS
|
-0.10
|
-1.19**
|
0.03
|
0.08
|
-0.20
|
-1.11
|
-0.26
|
-0.46
|
23.
|
KM-8 × HM
|
0.04
|
0.90**
|
-0.13**
|
-0.03
|
0.39
|
1.47*
|
0.73
|
111.09**
|
24.
|
KM-8 × DK
|
0.06
|
0.29
|
0.10*
|
-0.05
|
-0.20
|
-0.37
|
-0.47
|
-110.63**
|
25.
|
KM-9 × PS
|
0.01
|
0.62**
|
0.05
|
1.18*
|
0.87*
|
-1.37*
|
-1.36**
|
-140.73**
|
26.
|
KM-9 × HM
|
0.03
|
-0.04
|
-0.08*
|
0.17
|
0.47
|
1.36*
|
0.60**
|
-56.75**
|
27.
|
KM-9 × DK
|
-0.05
|
-0.59**
|
0.03
|
-1.34**
|
-1.34**
|
0.01
|
0.76
|
197.48**
|
28.
|
KM-10 × PS
|
0.07
|
0.43*
|
-0.06
|
0.19
|
-0.10
|
0.65
|
-0.01
|
-90.64**
|
29.
|
KM-10 × HM
|
0.05
|
0.00
|
0.08*
|
-0.77
|
-0.76
|
-1.33*
|
-0.67
|
-44.28**
|
30.
|
KM-10 × DK
|
-0.12
|
-0.43*
|
-0.01
|
0.58
|
0.87*
|
0.69
|
0.69
|
134.92**
|
|
SEm±
|
0.056
|
0.128
|
0.028
|
0.319
|
0.295
|
0.391
|
0.294
|
6.280
|
|
CD at 5 %
|
0.16
|
0.37
|
0.08
|
0.92
|
0.85
|
1.13
|
0.85
|
18.16
|
|
CD at 1 %
|
0.22
|
0.50
|
0.11
|
1.24
|
1.15
|
1.52
|
1.15
|
24.48
|
*and** indicate significance of values at p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively. DAS: Days after sowing PS: Punjab Sunheri HM: Hara Madhu DK : Durga Kranti |
The cross KM-2 x PS (-1.92) followed by KM-6 x PS (-1.64) and KM-3 x PS (-1.58) exhibited significant in desirable direction (negative) for sex ratio.The highest and significantly positive sca effects was observed in the cross KM-8 x HM (0.90) followed by KM-2 x PS (0.87) and KM-3 x PS (0.87) and KM-4 x DK (0.87) and KM-9 x PS (0.62) for flesh thickness. The cross KM-8 x HM (-0.13) followed by KM-9 x HM (-0.08) exhibited significant in desirable direction (negative) for rind thickness. Out of 30 crosses, eigth crosses exhibited significant and positive sca effects. Highest and significantly positive sca effects was observed in the cross KM-7 x PS (2.64) followed by KM-3 x PS (2.33) and KM-6 x HM (2.05) for total soluble solids. The highest and significantly positive sca effects was observed in the cross KM-7 x PS (2.32) followed by KM-6 x HM (1.65) and KM-3 x PS (1.61) for total sugars. Among 30 crosses, nine crosses exhibited significant and positive sca effects. Highest and significantly positive sca effects was observed in the cross KM-9 x DK (197.48) followed by KM-1 x PS (190.08) and KM-10 x DK (134.92) For β-carotene content. The crosses KM-2 x PS, KM-1 x DK and KM-3 x PS were the superior hybrids selected for yield since, these crosses exhibited significant sca effects for yield per hectare.
The crosses involving parents with good general combining ability effects can be exploited effectively by conventional breeding procedure like pedigree method. However the crosses one good combiner and other average or poor combiner could produce desirable transgressive segregators if additive genetic system was operative in good combining parents and epistatic effects also act in the same direction.
For exploitation of heterosis, the information on gca should be supplemented with sca and hybrid performance. Heterosis in F1 indicates operation of non-additive gene effects, but it cannot give any idea about the relative magnitude of non-additive (dominance + epistasis) and additive gene action. Hence, analysis of combining ability is one of the potential tools for identifying prospective parents to develop commercial F1 hybrids (Griffing, 1956). General and specific combining ability effects and variances obtained from a set of F1’s would enable a breeder to select desirable parents and crosses for each of the quantitative characters. General combining ability effects of parents and sca effects of crosses were significant for the characters studied. From the present investigation, it is evident that gca or sca effects in parents or crosses were in desirable direction for some characters and in undesirable direction for some other traits. Therefore it is important to ascertain the status of parent or hybrid with respect to combining ability effects over a number of component characters (Arunachalam and Bandopadhay, 1979).
Comprehensive assessment of parents by considering gca effects of 22 characters has resulted into identification of lines, viz., KM-1, KM-2, KM-8 and KM-10 as good combiners over all characters and lines, viz., KM-4, KM-5, KM-6, KM-7 and KM-9 were identified as poor combiners over all characters and KM-3 was identified as average combiners over all the characters among the lines. Among the testers PS was identified as average combiner over all characters, HM and DK were identified as poor combiners over all characters.
Ratio of general combining ability variance (GCA) to specific combining ability variance (SCA) is an indication of predominance of additive or non-additive genetic
variance. GCA to SCA ratio was very low for the average fruit weight (Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996, Munshi and Verma, 1999, Vashisht et al., 2010 and Bayoumy et al., 2014), flesh thickness ( More and Seshadri, 1980, Kalloo et al., 1990, Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996, Munshi and Verma, 1999, Vashisht et al., 2010 and Bayoumy et al., 2014) and cavity length (Vashisht et al., 2010) indicating preponderance of non-additive gene action and hence these traits can be improved through recurrent selection for specific combining ability or heterosis breeding. Non-additive component of genetic variance was higher than additive component for vine length (Gurav et al., 2000 and Bayoumy et al., 2014), number of branches (Gurav et al., 2000 and Bayoumy et al., 2014), sex ratio (Vashisht et al., 2010), fruit yield per vine (More and Seshadri, 1980, Kalloo et al., 1990, Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996, Munshi and Verma, 1999, Vashisht et al., 2010 and Bayoumy et al., 2014), fruit yield per plot (More and Seshadri, 1980, Kalloo et al., 1990, Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996, Munshi and Verma, 1999, Vashisht et al., 2010 and Bayoumy et al., 2014), fruit yield per hectare (More and Seshadri, 1980, Kalloo et al., 1990, Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996, Munshi and Verma, 1999, Vashisht et al., 2010 and Bayoumy et al., 2014), days to first flowering (Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996 and Bayoumy et al., 2014), days to first female flowering (Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996, Vashisht et al., 2010 and Bayoumy et al., 2014), number of nodes up to first female flowering (Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996 and Vashisht et al., 2010), number of fruiting branches per vine (Vashisht et al., 2010), number of fruits per vine (Dhaliwal and Lal,1996, Munshi and Verma, 1999 and Bayoumy et al., 2014), fruit shape index (Vashisht et al., 2010), rind thickness (Vashisht et al., 2010), cavity breadth (Vashisht et al., 2010), total soluble solids (Munshi and Verma, 1999 and Vashisht et al. 2010), total sugars (Bayoumy et al., 2014), and β-carotene content (Bayoumy et al., 2014). Hence, these characters can be improved through recurrent selection schemes.
There is great scope for heterosis breeding in order to exploit the non-additive genetic variance observed for yield and yield components. Non additive component of genetic variance was slightly higher than additive components for number of leaves at 60 DAS and days to first harvest (More and Seshadri, 1980, Kesavan and More, 1991, Dhaliwal and Lal, 1996 and Bayoumy et al., 2014). Hence, direct selection or recurrent selection schemes can be employed for improvement of these traits.