GENETIC VARIABILITY AND HERITABILITY STUDIES IN SNAP MELON (CUCUMIS MELO VAR. MOMORDICA) FOR YIELD AND QUALITY TRAITS

The present investigation was carried out at Herbal Garden, College of Agriculture, Raichur during, summer 2023-2024.The experimental material comprised of 16 snap melon genotypes collected from various locations in and around Karnataka and also from other states of India.The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications.Analysis of variance revealed that there is a considerable variability exists among the genotypes for all the characters.High phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for vine length, number of branches leaf area per vine, fruit length, fruit weight, fruit yield per vine, fruit yield per plot, ascorbic acid, carotene content, flesh thickness and pulp to seed ratio.High level of heritability with high genetic advance as percentage mean was recorded by vine length, number of branches, number of nodes per main vine, number of leaves per vine, leaf area per vine, node at which first male appeared, node at which first female flower appeared, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, fruit yield per vine, fruit yield per plot, TSS , ascorbic acid, carotene content, shelf life, rind thickness, flesh thickness, pulp to seed ratio, and fruit firmness indicating the involvement of additive gene effect and selection would be more effective.