Exploitation of heterosis in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract

The cucumber is one of the commercially important cucurbitaceous vegetables grown throughout the country. Its tender fruits are in great demand for salad and pickles round the year in almost every part of the world. In spite of its importance, large variability, adaptability and uses, the research priority given to this crop especially in crop improvement aspect is highly meager in our country. There is a paramount need to develop suitable hybrids, which may be utilized on commercial scale especially in the plains. Assessing the genetic variability and exploitation of heterosis can bring out a speedy improvement. The present investigation was therefore taken to study the magnitude of heterosis for yield and its components in cucumber through 10x10 diallel analysis.