Genetic variability and correlation studies in ‘egusi’ melon [ <i>Citrullus lanatus</i> (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai]
2008
Kehinde, O. B. | Idehen, E. O.
Genetic variability and correlation analysis were studied in 20 accessions of ‘egusi’ melon during two growing seasons. The genotypic correlation coefficients with seed yield were partitioned into direct and indirect effect causes. Heritability in the broad sense ranged from 17% for fruit circumference to 90% for days to germination and flowering in the early season, while in the late season, heritability ranged from 7% for seed weight per fruit to 88% for days to germination. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for seed yield while days to maturity had the lowest in both seasons. Fruit circumference and fruit weight had significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation with seed yield in the early season, while number of branches per plant, vine length per plant, number of fruits per plant and fruit circumference per plant showed significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation with seed yield in the late season. Environmental correlation coefficients were significant between seed yield and vine length per plant, number of fruits per plant and fruit size per plant. Vine length per plant and fruit circumference per plant had the largest positive direct effect on seed yield. Knowledge of the relationship of these characters with seed yield will aid in the selection of genotypes that have high seed yield, which will also be specific to the two major seasons in the year.
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