Growth and flowering behaviour of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) hybrids under Northern zone of Karnataka

A field experiment was conducted during 2012-13 Rabi season at the Vegetable Research Block of College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, to evaluate the growth and flowering performance of eight muskmelon hybrids with standard check ArkaJeet. The experiment consists of nine treatments laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Growth performance results showed that the maximum vine length and highest number of leaves was recorded in Tamanna (160.20 cm and 158.46) followed by Kundan (159.06 cm and 153.80) and highest leaf area and highest number of branches was recorded in Kundan (119.10 cm² and 7.80, respectively). An early flower initiation was noticed in NS-910 (27.66 days) followed by Tamanna (27.93) whereas the hybrid Tamanna was responded earliest (32.20 days) to first female flower initiation followed by NS-910 (32.53 days). The least sex ratio was found in NUN-0001 (2.08), Tamanna (1.97) and Kundan (1.55). The least number of node for first flower was observed in the hybrid NUN-1002 (2.53) followed by Natalya (2.66). In conclusion Tamanna and Kundan showed good results for growth and flowering behaviour compared to other hybrids and they could be recommended for growing.