Exploitation of heterosis for yield and contributing traits in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract

Fourty five non reciprocal F1 hybrids derived from ten diverse cucumber genotypes were evaluated in complete randomized block design (RBD) with three replications during summer 2006 to study heterosis over better parent and mid parent. The results on earliness, vegetative characters and yield and its components, the hybrids Swarna ageti x Patna-3, PCUC-28 x Peelibheet local and CU-5 x Patna-3 were found to be the most promising. Heterosis to the tune of 23.0, 74.42 and 73.45 percent over their better parents and 30.68, 78.78 and 15.93 percent over their mid parents respectively. Therefore, these three hybrids were identified for evaluation at multi location and commercial exploitation.