Combining ability studies exploiting gynoecy in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).

Twelve F₁ hybrids of cucumber derived from a top cross involving twelve monoecious parents and a stable gynoecious inbred (EC 709119) as female parent were evaluated in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications to assess general combining ability (GCA). Significant GCA effects were observed for all the characters except days to first male flower anthesis. The estimates of GCA effects revealed that none of the parents exhibited good GCA for all the characters together. Among 12 parents, CS123 was observed as the good general combiner for fruit yield per vine, length of main vine, branches per plant, number of harvests, duration of the crop, fruits per plant and number of seeds per fruit. The parents, CS128 and IC 538186 were general good combiners for earliness. The parent CS127 was found to be superior for fruit length, weight and girth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]