An estimation of genetic parameters, general and specific combining ability on endemic cantaloupe populations

In foundation of appropriate breeding program, awareness of gene action for controlling quantitative traits is high important. In this study, a complete diallel cross design was used to estimate of gene effects on controlling some traits, genotype × year interaction, variance component, general and specific combining ability and heterosis in cantaloupe group. Five traits, including fruit maturity, yield, fruit weight, number of fruits and flesh thickness evaluated over two years. Analysis of variance showed the genetic difference among genotypes. General and specific combining ability, reciprocal, maternal and non-maternal effects were significant for all the traits. Fruit maturity had the highest specific heritability, while yield had the lowest specific combining ability (0.73 and 0.08 respectivley). Resultd also show that additive gene effects were the most important with respect to fruit maturity, fruit weight and flesh thickness. Dastjerdi had the highest general combining ability for fruit maturity and fruit weight, while for the number of fruits, Samsori had the highest general combining ability. Non-additive gene effects mainly controlled number of fruits and yield. In this study, the crosses including Rishbaba × Savei and Tiltorogh × Savei had the positive and significant specific combining anility for yield. Therefore, these crosses could be considered for production of high yielding cultivars. Results also indicated that for fruit number and yield traits, hybrid production in order to benefit more than additive gene effects is of higher priority. But for the genetic improvement of earliness and flesh thickness selection is more efficient. Furthermore, the selection based on progeny testing can be used to modify the weighted cantaloupe fruit.