Male Sterility In Muskmelon (Cucumis Melo L.). I. Studies On Combining Ability

Combining ability (gca and sca) was studied in muskanelon (Cucunais melo L.) involving a 2 × 32 Use × tester cram. The variances due to males, females and their cross combinations were more important for earliness while nonadditive for yield and quality. Of the two females, ms-1 was a good combiner for earltness, and ms-2 for yield and quality. Among male parents, 15 out of 32 combined significantly well for three or more characters, Indicating their promise in heterosis breeding. Indian parents Harela, Hara Madhu, Lucknow Safeda, Arka Jeet, Pnsa Madhuras, Allahabad Kajra, Punjab Sunehri and Kutana, and exotic parents Sweet Gold, Gold Silver, Edisto-47, R. L. Hales Best, Honey Dew, Rio Gold and Persiiskii-5 held promise. Among the crosses, six ms-1 combinations with Crenshaw, Sheep Head, Campo, Arka Jeet, Sweet Gold, Pnsa Sharbati and five ms-2 combinations with PMR-6, Durgapura Madhu. PMR-45, Top Mark, and Jacumba exhibited significant sca effects for three or more characters.