Parthenocarpic Gynoecious Parental Lines of Cucumber Introduced from Netherlands for Developing High-Yielding, Quality Hybrids

Abstract

ABSTRACTDevelopment of parthenocarpic gynoecious hybrids in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) has enormous importance for its successful cultivation under protected conditions because of low cost of hybrid seed production. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the combining ability, nature of gene action, and heterosis for total soluble solids, cucurbitacin content, fruit color, and marketable yield per hectare in cucumber. The experimental material comprised 48 F1 crosses, developed by crossing 16 lines (8 gynoecious) with 3 testers during the year 2011. Parents (16 lines and 3 testers) and the 48 hybrids, along with two standard checks (“KH-1” and “Pusa Sanyog”), were planted in a randomized complete-block design during the year 2012 for their comparative evaluation. Experimental results revealed that lines LC-1–1, CGN-21585, LC-28–8, CGN-20953, and testers Japanese Long Green and K-75 were superior on the basis of mean performance and general combining ability. The cross combinations LC-1–1 × K-75 (monoecious), CGN-21585 × Japanese Long Green (gynoecious), CGN-19533 × K-75 (gynoecious), CGN-20953 × Poinsette (gynoecious), and LC-28–8 × K-75 (monoecious) were found to be the best on the basis of mean performance, specific combining ability, and heterosis. Estimates of σ2SCA were higher in magnitude than those of σ2GCA (average), thereby indicating the predominant role of non-additive gene action governing these traits. Therefore, heterosis breeding could be exploited commercially for the development of high-yielding, quality parthenocarpic gynoecious hybrids in cucumber.