Characterization and Utilization of Potential Genetic Resources for Improvement of Citrullus lanatus Under Desert Ecosystem
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Abstract
Mateera is an indigenous type of drought-hardy watermelon and is extensively grown with mixed cropping on sand-dunes landscape in the Thar Desert. Its tender and ripe fruits and seed kernels are liked by desert dwellers and sold at a high premium. Earlier, due to the absence of mateera varieties, farmers used heterozygous seeds collected from their own fields, which resulted in uninsured quality. From 1994 to 2012, diverse Citrullus germplasm was collected, evaluated, conserved, and utilized and intensive research work was carried out at ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. A close correspondence between PCV and GCV values with respect to characters under study indicated that the testing environment has very little influence on the expression of the attributes. Thus, selection based on phenotype can be effective with an equal probability of success. On the evaluation of a wide range of germplasm, it was found that standard watermelon genotypes failed to express their potential under high temperatures and rainfed conditions of arid regions. Thus, the use of indigenous and generated variability and the promotion of varieties from native germplasm is found to be beneficial. Mateera lines AHW-18 (IC-430201), AHW-19 (IC-430202), AHW-65 (IC-430208), AHW-108 (IC-430215), AHW-140 (IC-430225), AHW-RSS-1 (red seeded isolate from germplasm of Churu district) and AHW-BSM-1 (black seeded isolate from AHW-19) were found promising for use in breeding or trait-specific selections. The developed mateera varieties, i.e., AHW-19 and Thar Manak are early in harvesting, producing better quality fruits and of multiple-use, and recommended for cultivation under resource constraints in a hot arid climate.
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