Estimation Of Genetic Parameters And Clustering Of Some Melon (Cucumis melo L) Strains Based On Qualitative And Quantitative Characteristics

Abstract

Plant breeding programs in assembling high yielding varieties of melon need to know the qualitative and quantitative characters. The superior melon plants that people are interested in are fresh fruit, sweet taste, thick and durable fruit flesh. The study was to obtain character nine of strains melon, clustering analysis, determine the estimated value of genetic diversity and determine potential melon strains for future breeding programs. The research method was a field experiment in a Completely Randomized Block Design with a single factor and three replications. The treatments used were 9 strains of melons DS-1-2-10-21-11, DS-1-2-10-21-22, DS-1-2-10-21-31, DNG-1-47-13, DNG-1-47-22, DNG-1-47-31, DNG-1-47-32, APL-11 and APL-12. The data were analyzed using Analysis of variance followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) with a level 5%. Estimation of genetic diversity is done by calculating the coefficient of diversity and heritability values in a broad sense. Clustering was analyzed using the Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering Method. The coefficient of similarity between strains was measured using the Euclidian Distance measurement transformation matrix. The character of the melon strains 1-2-10-21-31 is shorter, the stem diameter is large, the female flowering ages faster, the fruit diameter is large and the fruit flesh is thick. There are three clusters formed based on parameters. Variable plant height at 2 wap has a wide range of genetic diversity coefficients. A potential strains for further breeding programs is DS-1-2-10-21-31.