Selection of elite F3 lines in cucumber using factor analysis method

ABSTRACT

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seed is imported to Iran. A breeding program is needed locally to select elite lines. Factor analysis is a useful tool for investigating variable relationships for complex factors because it allows investigation of concepts that are not easily measured directly by collapsing a large number of variables into a few interpretable underlying factors. Forty genotypes, representing hybrids of commercial cucumber, cv. Negeen, and lines B₁₀ and B₁₂, developed locally, were used in the experiment at Rasht, Iran. Factor analysis, based on principal component analysis and varimax rotation, indicated the factors yield, major yield contributing factors, fruit quality, fruit firmness, and vegetative factors accounted for 66.5% of total variation. Genotypes positioned near the commercial cultivar in scatter diagrams were acceptable because they had high yield, and major yield contributing factors, and good fruit quality. If gynociouse and parthenocarpic lines are not available germplasm can be selected from progenies of commercial hybrids and local lines with a simple factor analysis.

KEYWORDS:

• Cucumis sativus
• correlation
• varimax rotation
• yield