Combining ability analysis of yield components in cucumber

Abstract

Three U.S.-adapted Cucumis sativus var. sativus L. lines and one C. sativus var. hardwickii (R.) Alef.-derived line were crossed in a half-diallel design to determine their combining ability for several yield-related traits (yield components). Six F1 progenies were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with eight replications in 1999 and 2000 for fruit number and length/diameter ratio (L:D), lateral branch number, number of female flowering nodes, and days to anthesis. Combining ability was significantly influenced (p < 0.05) by year for most of the horticultural traits examined. General combining ability (GCA) was significant for all traits in each year. Specific combining ability (SCA) was significant in magnitude and direction for only fruit number and days to anthesis. Data indicate that the C. sativus var. hardwickii-derived inbred line WI 5551 possessed SCA for yield component traits, and thus maybe useful for improving fruit yield in commercial cucumber.