1Forest and Conservation Genomics and Biotechnology Lab, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Tweeddale Centre, 1350 Regent Street, Fredericton, NB, E3C 2G6, Canada. Email: msfageria@hotmail.com
2Defence Research and Development Organization, Timarpur, Delhi, India-110054
Online published on 17 November, 2016.
Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important fruit crop in many parts of the world. In recent years, preference of consumers has shifted toward organic fruit with higher in TSS, and flesh thickness, better in flesh texture and flavour and of small sized seed cavity. However, viral diseases, particularly Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Watermelon mosaic virus, and Fruit fly (Dacus cucurbitae, D. dorsalis) are the limiting factors in organic crop production. We studied 112 diverse genotypes of muskmelon under virus and fruit fly pressure for yield, quality characteristics, and resistance against these pests. Replicated field experiments were conducted to determine phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, heritability (broad sense) and genetic advance. The results revealed that the differences between the genotypes were highly significant for all the 12 characters studied. High estimates of heritability were recorded for number of fruits per hill, fruit yield, rind thickness, TSS, shelf life, severity of viruses and fruit fly incidence. High heritability along with high genetic advance was observed for incidence of fruit fly, severity of virus, number of fruits per hill, rind thickness, and shelf life.
