Number of fruit heritability and response to selection in breeding population of cucumber

The number of fruits per plant is the main trait in cucumber that determines the yield potential of lines. The F1 generation was obtained from a cross between lines 118 × 119 lines. The F2 generation was achieved by inbreeding of the F1 progenies and each of the F2 plants were inbred for generation of F3 progenies. Ten plants of each F3 population were planted in separate lines in a completely randomized complete block design and on the F3 plant populations different traits were measured and recorded. After evaluation of the F3 populations, the stock-seeds of the selected lines were re-cultivated in the following year and allowed to be open pollinated. The open-pollinated off-springs of selected lines were collected in a bulk method and in the following year, re-cultivated once again to determine the genetic value of the selection. Results indicated that the bred population with an average of 39.82 fruits per plant was 37.73 percent improved in comparison to average of the F3 population (28.91 fruits per plant). Therefore, the bred population can be used as a selection sources for further breeding programs and selection of more valuable cucumber lines.