Utilizing novel parthenocarpic gynoecious cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) inbreds for exploiting their heterotic potential under poly-house conditions

Abstract

Eight new parthenocarpic gynoecious lines of cucumber were used for crossing in a half-diallel fashion to generate 28 F1 hybrids which were evaluated along with commercial check 'Multistar' in poly-net house for eleven yield and quality traits. The analysis of variance indicated significant difference among all the genotypes for all the traits except number of seeds per fruit. The mean squares due to combining ability were significant for almost all the traits, indicating the role of both additive and non-additive gene action in inheritance of these traits. The parthenocarpic gynoecious line PBRK-10 was the best general combiner for five characters which included fruit weight, total soluble solids, fruit length, vine length and flesh to seed cavity ratio, whereas, PBRK-4 was the best general combiner for number of fruits per plant, days to first fruit harvest and yield per plant. The crosses PBRK-4 × PBRK-12 was found to be the best specific combiner for number of fruits per plant and yield per plant, PBRK-12 × PBRK-7 for fruit weight and fruit diameter and PBRK-10 × PBRK-1 for fruit length. The specific combining ability effects of the crosses and parental lines were found to be positively associated with their per se performance. The magnitude of heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for yield per plant ranged from − 5.73 to 38.75 and − 6.77 to 45.90, respectively. The crosses PBRK-4 × PBRK-12, PBRK-4 × PBRK-9 and PBRK-9 × PBRK-1 exhibiting high positive heterosis for yield per plant along with high sca effects could be used for commercial utilization.

Assessing the Combining Ability and Gene Action Parameters of Double Crosses Hybrids of Gynoecious Cucumber in Protected Cultivation

“…(2 × 3) the least Hybrid vigor was in the negative direction, reaching -34.32%. The data of Table (3) showed estimates of the effects of the General Combining Ability for each father, as it was noted that inbred line ( 4), ( 5) and ( 6) gave a positive general effect of 0.0489, 0.0987 and 0.1540, respectively, meaning that strain (6) gave the highest values in When inbred line ( 1), ( 2) and (3) gave negative General Combining Ability values, the lowest was -0.1333 in strain No. (1).…”

“…And the breeding of hybrids with high productivity, good quality, resistance to pests, unfavorable environmental conditions, and good attention to agricultural service operations [5]. Since the genotypes of female cucumbers do not require pollination and fertilization to produce fruits, their production potential is greater than that of open cucumbers, in addition to their higher economic returns because seedless fruits are more expensive than seedless ones [6]. The crossbreeding process for the production of double crosses is one of the mating systems through which it is possible to obtain broader information about the genetic mechanism that governs the various traits, and it also provides additional information that includes the overlapping components between the variations and effects of genetic action and the increase in the genetic mixing of parents and marital crosses that control inbreeding.…”

Mean performance and genetic variability of parthenocarpic gynoecious cucumber inbreds under protected conditions of Eastern India

“…Because parthenocarpic cucumber genotypes are gynoecious and do not require pollinators for fruit set, their yield potential is larger than that of typical seeded cucumber kinds. Furthermore, economic gains are high because seedless fruit is more expensive than seeded fruit (Thapliyal, 2017).…”