Genetic evaluation of muskmelon hybrids using performance, correlation and path analysis for yield and quality traits in Kashmir

The present muskmelon hybrid study was carried out during the Kharif season of 2021–2022 in the experimental field of the vegetable science division, SKUAST, Kashmir, Shalimar. The experimental design employed was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, evaluating twenty muskmelon hybrids for various quantitative and qualitative traits. Significant genotypic differences were observed across all the traits. Madhusree hybrid exhibited the highest fruit yield per plant (11.52 kg), followed by Tipu-50 (8.63 kg) and Punjab hybrid (7.87 kg). In terms of quality attributes, hybrid VS-8989 demonstrated the highest total soluble solids (TSS) (11.55 °B), followed by Sawarna hybrid (10.58 °B) while highest vitamin C content was found in Mahima (31.55 mg/100 g), followed by Punjab hybrid (31.08 mg/100 g) and Shelf life was longest in LHM-Masti (10.86 days), followed by Madhuraj (10.27 days). The average yield per plant demonstrated a significant positive correlation at both genotypic and phenotypic levels with several yield-contributing traits, including weight of fruit (g), number of fruits/plant, Vitamin C content (mg/100 g), flesh thickness (cm) and fruit length (cm). Path coefficient analysis further revealed that the highest positive direct effect on average yield per plant was observed for the number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight (g), fruit length (cm), flesh thickness (cm), phenol content (mg/g), days to first fruit harvest and internodal length (cm). These traits showed significant positive correlations and high positive direct effects on yield per plant, suggesting that direct selection based on these traits would be effective for yield improvement.