Studies on Combining Ability in Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.)

General combining ability of 4 female (2 gynoecious and 2 monoecious) and 8 male parents, and specific combining ability of 32 F₁, hybrids (using line × tester analysis) were studied in cucumber. Magnitude of σ² was greater than that of σ² aca for nodal position, days to anthesis, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, vine, length, and early yield. It was inferred that additive genetic component played predominant role in the expression of these characters. The results on general combining ability revealed that SR 551F among females and Balam among males were the best combiners for maximum number of characters. Hybrid SR 551F × Poona Khira was the best specific combination, which showed significant ŝ_y effects for 5 out of 9 characters studied.