Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of melons from different botanical groups (Cucumis melo L.)

Abstract

Genetic variability, broad sense heritability and genetic advance was determined in 41 melons accessions of different botanical groups including one wild relative anguria. The analysis of variance was done for 19 quantitative traits such as cotyledon length, cotyledon width, days to 1st pistillate flowering, ovary length, ovary width, days to first fruit harvest, fruit length, average fruit weight, flesh thickness, seed cavity, fruit diameter, blossom end scar, seed length, seed width, total soluble solids (TSS), pH and titratable acidity. All the traits showed highly significant difference at 5% level of significance. The phenotypic and genotypic co-efficient of variation were high for the quantitative traits such as cotyledon length, cotyledon width, ovary length, ovary width, number of fruits per vine, fruit length, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, flesh thickness, seed cavity, fruit diameter, blossom end scar, seed length, seed width, TSS and titratable acidity. Moderate GCV and PCV were observed for traits such as days to first female flowering, days to first fruit maturity and pH. The high broad sense heritability was coupled with high genetic advance as percent mean for cotyledon length, cotyledon width, days to first female flowering, ovary length, ovary width, number of fruits per vine,days to first fruit maturity, fruit length, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, flesh thickness, seed cavity, fruit diameter, blossom end scar, seed length, seed width, TSS, pH and titratable acidity.