Genetic Divergence and Gene Source Studies in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
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Abstract
Since there is an appreciable deficit between realized and potential crop yields in cucumber, so there is a strong
need to dcvelop hybrids having desirable horticultural traits. This necessitated the identification of suitable divergent
parents to get high heterotic effect in terms of yield and quality. Thus, divergence analysis was carried out in 26
genotypes of cucumber. All the character under study showed a wide range of values except days to first picking
and fruit circumference. Phenotypic variability was high for node at which first female tlower appears, sex ratio,
yield per plant, number of fruits and vine length. The genotypes could be grouped into 5 clusters. Cluster nos.
I, II, III, IV and V contained II, 3, 5, 2 and 5 genotypes, respectively which are independent of geographical
distribution. The genotypes in cluster I had maximum intra-cluster distance closely followed by cluster nos. V and
II. Inter-cluster distance was maximum between the clusters I and II followed by clusters II and III suggesting
wide diversity between the groups.. Highest yield per plant was recorded in cluster no. IV followed by cluster
no. III. Cluster nos. I and III may be employed for improvement programme in cucumber. Market Long was best
gene source for yield, no. of fruits and TSS.