Heterotic potential, potence ratio, combining ability and genetic control of yield and its contributing traits in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

ABSTRACT

The present investigation was undertaken in F₁ population of 48 crosses, developed by crossing 16 lines (8 gynoecious) and 3 testers during the year 2011. All the parental lines and their F₁ hybrids were evaluated in randomised complete block design for yield and its contributing traits during the year 2012. Experimental results revealed that parental lines LC-1-1, CGN-20953, CGN-19533, Gyne-5, LC-15-5 and testers Japanese Long Green and K-75 were found superior on the basis of mean performance and general combining ability effects. The cross combinations LC-1-1 × K-75 (monoecious), CGN-19533 × K-75 (gynoecious), CGN-20953 × Poinsette (gynoecious), Gyne-5 × K-75 (gynoecious) and LC-3-3 × Poinsette (monoecious) excelled based on per se performance, specific combining ability and heterosis studies. Further, performance of top 10 heterotic hybrids illustrated the presence over dominance effects in all the crosses except in one cross, where no dominance was observed. Gene action studies indicated that non-additive gene action governed all the traits under study, suggesting the importance of heterosis breeding for the development of high yielding stable parthenocarpic gynoecious hybrids in cucumber.

KEYWORDS:

• Combining ability
• gene action
• heterosis
• potence ratio
• yield traits

Acknowledgements

The authors are highly thankful to Centre for Crop Genetic Resources, the Netherlands for providing cucumber germplasm to conduct present investigation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.