No abstract

Two field trials were carried out at Gemmeiza Agric. Res. Station ( Gharbia Governorate) during two successive summer seasons of 2005 and 2006 to study the response of gurma watermelon to three sowing date ( April 1 st , April 15 th and may 1 st ) and three plant distribution system (S1, one plant/ hill on one side of the ridge, S2 : two plants/ hill on one side of the ridge and S3: one plant/ hill on both sides of the ridge ) in addition to their interaction on growth, fruit traits and yield. A factorial system in randomized complete blocks design with three replicates was adopted. The results revealed that early planting on April 1 st increased the vegetative growth expressed as plant fresh weight ,stem length,number of leaves and number of branches per plant than the other planting dates. However, fruit traits, yield and its as fruits weight, fruit diameter, fruit length, number of fruits per plant, weight of 100 seeds, weight of seeds in fruit and yield (kg/ fed.) were significantly decreased with delaying the sowing date .Plant distribution system had a significant effect on all studied characters in both seasons, S1 gave the highest values of plant fresh weight, stem length, number of leaves, number of branches, plant fruit weight, fruit diameter and length, weight of seeds fruit and values of 100 seeds weight, however it had the lowest values of seed yield/ fed. The highest values of seed yield/fed. were obtained by using S2 system .The interaction between sowing date and plant distribution system had significant effect on all treats under study in both season. Generally, it could be concluded that, using early planting on April 1 st and plant distribution system (S2: two plants/ hill on one side of the ridge might gave the highest values of seed gurma watermelon yield under similar condition of this work.

The present investigation was carried out during three years of 2012, 2013 and 2014. These experiments were done at Sabaheya Horticultural Research Station, Alexandria, and Fowa area, Kafer El-Sheikh, Egypt. Type of gene action, correlation coefficient and path analysis among all combinations of some important characteristics of sweet melon were studied. A 5X5 half-diallel cross was performed among five pure lines of sweet melon. Additive gene effects were found to be significant for plant length, number of branches / plant, flowering date, maturity date and flesh thickness indicating that the additive gene action played the main role in the inheritance of these traits. The evaluated characteristics of fruit netting, fruit shape index, total soluble solids % and moisture content exhibited insignificant values for the additive gene action. The dominant gene effect was found to be significant for plant length, number of branches per plant, maturity date, fruit netting degree, Total soluble solids % and moisture content indicating the importance of dominant gene effect in the inheritance of this characters. Total yield per plant, phenotypically, correlated with plant length, average fruit number and average fruit weight. Hence, a lot of attention for such relationships in the improvement program of such characters of sweet melon through selection.

A breeding program was carried out at Sabahya horticultural research station, Alexandria, Egypt, during the period fringe in the autumn season 2011 till the late summer season 2013. The first part of the study aimed to measure the magnitude of development after two cycles of selfing with selection using selection index method, for two locally lines produced (lin1 Orange flesh and line 2 Sandafa ), selfing with selection technique was done in the autumn season of 2011 and the summer season of 2012, and the evaluation of the two selection generations was carried out in early and late summer seasons of 2013. The second part of the study aimed to produce all possible crosses (a complete diallel) between five locally produced lines (with a high degree of homogeneity to be considered approximately pure lines). Crossing among the five lines (Line 1 Kuz-El-Asal , Line 2 Charantais , Line 3 green flesh , Line 4 Matruh and Line 5 primal ) was done in the autumn season of 2011, and the hybrids were evaluated in the summer seasons of 2012 and 2013. Selection index of five important characters had a big role in increased the mean values for these traits. Range values declared that the homogeneity became more within individual for most of traits in second selection generation and check variety compared with original population. Most important significant positive correlation relationships were detected among average fruit number / plant and total yield / plant, net weight with each of the flesh thickness, placenta hardness and netting, flesh thickness with each of the placenta hardness and netting, placenta hardness and netting. In conclusion it could be reported that the hybrids and check variety (Ananas Monanasa) scored the highest values in most characters under studies. Heterosis values were significant and positive over mid-parent and better parents in most crosses for all characters under studies, and most of dominance degrees had appeared.