Genetic variability in bulgarian melon collection - flowering types and fruit quantitative traits

Abstract

Cucumis melo L. is characterized with a great polymorphism according to many agronomical features. Study the variability of melon flowering and fruit traits is an initial step in the breeding program. The current study aimed to identify the genetic variability in the melon collection according to flowering and fruit traits in order to be used in breeding programs. It was evaluated fifty melon genotypes belong to different groups - cantalupensis, reticulatus, makuwa, inodorus, and agrestis. The studied collection consists of Bulgarian old cultivars, hybrids, landraces, PI, and introduced lines. Investigated genotypes were characterized by nine quantitative fruit traits - days to flowering, sex expression, days to ripening, fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh thickness, fruit weight, seed cavity diameter, and total soluble solids. It was established great variability in studied characteristics measured by a coefficient of variation from 7.73 to 39.85%. Significant correlations between fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh thickness, cavity diameter, and fruit weight were established. Principal component analysis grouped variables into three components which explain 69.89% of the total variation. Cluster analysis divided genotypes into six groups of similarities. Among the genotypes examined, they have a relatively high level of variability and their polymorphism could be used in a breeding program aimed at combining valuable characters.