Genetic variability and interrelationship among different traits in F₃ Progenies of muskmelon (Cucumis Melo L.)

Seven F₃ muskmelon progenies of cross Durgapur Selection x Punjab Sunheri were used to study the genetic components such as variability, heritability, genetic advance and correlation for growth, yield and quality attributes. Significant differences among the progenies were observed for all the traits under study. The high values of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variability and heritability estimates were associated with grater values of genetic advance as percent of mean as observed for final vine length, number of primary branches per vine, number of male and female flowers per vine, sex ratio, number of fruits per vine, fruit yield per vine, average weight of fruit, average rind thickness, average fruit cavity, average weight of pulp per fruit, average weight of seed perfruit and T.S.S. Correlation studies revealed that fruit yield per vine showed highly significant positive correlation with yield contributing characters such as final vine length, number of primary branches per vine, number of female flowers per vine, number of fruits per vine, average weight of fruit, average length of fruit, average diameter of fruit and average weight of pulp per fruit. It is suggested that characters viz., number of female flowers per vine, number of fruits per vine, average weight of fruit, average weight of pulp per fruit should be given priority for selecting high yielding genotypes.