Identification of promising muskmelon parents and hybrids through combining ability and heterosis analysis in arid environments

Despite the economic importance of muskmelon, there is limited information on the combining ability and heterotic potential of genetically diverse cultivars, highlighting the need for systematic evaluation of parental lines and hybrid combinations. Seven genetically diverse cultivars, including two inbred lines of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) were crossed in a half-diallel to generate 21 F1 hybrids. These hybrids, along with the seven parental lines and commercial check, were evaluated in a randomized block design during summer-2024 at research farm, College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agriculture University, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. The mean performance of parents revealed a wide range of variability for various characters within the parental line utilized in crossing programme. General combining ability (GCA) analysis indicated that the parents Thar Mahima, AHMM/BR-8, Punjab Sunehri, Hara Madhu and Durgapura Madhu exhibited the best GCA for yield and related traits. Specific combining ability (SCA) variance was greater than the GCA variance for all traits except some yield-contributing characters. Among the crosses AHMM/BR-8 × Punjab Sunehri, Thar Mahima × Durgapura Madhu, Thar Mahima × Hara Madhu and Durgapura Madhu × Hara Madhu showed superior SCA effects for yield and associates traits. Additionally, AHMM/BR-8 × Punjab Sunehri, Thar Mahima × Durgapura Madhu and Thar Mahima × Hara Madhu exhibited significant positive heterosis, making them promising candidates for future hybrid development in muskmelon.