Inter-trait Relationship and Variability in Segregating Population of Muskmelon Derived from Intra-specific Cross for Total Soluble Solids and Yield

Variability, character association, and path analysis were carried out in 599 individual plants of F₂ population derived from an intra-specific cross of Cucumis melo x Cucumis melo var. Momordica. The observations were recorded on nine horticultural traits viz. number of branches/plant, vine length (cm), number of fruits/plant, polar circumference and equatorial circumference of fruit (cm), flesh thickness (cm), fruit weight (kg), total soluble solid (%) and yield/plant (kg). The analysis of variance revealed remarkable variation within population for concerned characters. The maximum range of mean value was recorded in vine length and minimum in flesh thickness. Regression analysis revealed that number of fruits contribute maximum towards increase of fruit yield, followed by fruit weight and polar circumference of fruit. Yield has positive and significant association with all other characters except total soluble solids (TSS). Number of fruits had the highest direct effect on yield followed by fruit weight. Therefore, number of fruits and fruit weight should be considered during selection for yield. These populations will be converted into Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) by selfing following the Single Seed Decent (SSD) methods will be very useful to map the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) for horticultural traits and TSS.