Heterosis and combining ability of melon genotypes (Cucumis melo L.) for yield characters in full diallel crosses

Diah Rusita Handayani, Sumeru Ashari, Afifuddin Latif Adiredjo, Noer Rahmi Ardiarini and Mochammad Roviq

Abstract: Combining ability and heterosis were used to assess the performance of the genotypes of the parent and their hybrids. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of heterosis and combining ability on the diallel crosses of melon (Cucumis melo L.) for yield and quality-related traits. Ten genotypes of melons were grown and crossed in full diallel to produce F1 hybrids. This research was conducted in 2021 by planting 100 melon genotypes in a randomized block design with three replications. Analysis of variance showed significant (P 0.01) differences among the melon genotypes for fruit diameter, fruit weight, fruit flesh thickness, and fruit total soluble solids. Combining ability analysis showed that mean squares due to general combining ability (GCA) were significant for fruit diameter, fruit weight, flesh thickness, and total soluble solids. In addition, the specific combining ability (SCA) was significant for the characters of fruit diameter, fruit weight, flesh thickness, and fruit total soluble solids. The parental genotypes 2, 3, and 10 showed the highest GCA effect for the yield characters. Therefore, this genotype can be used to produce high-yield hybrid cultivars. The research results show that all characters’ GCA: SCA ratio was less than 0.50, meaning most of the traits were controlled by non additive gene action and verifying that the breeding material could be efficiently used to produce hybrid cultivars based on heterotic effects.

Keywords: heterobeltiosis; hybrid general combining ability; specific combining ability

Date published: 2022-10-21