Morpho-biochemical characterization and D2 analysis of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) landraces from India and exotic germplasm

DILBAG SINGH; RAJINDER SINGH; JOHAR SINGH SAINI; PARVEEN KUMAR SINGH

doi:10.56093/ijas.v88i10.84256

Authors

DILBAG SINGH Vegetable Breeder, Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004
RAJINDER SINGH Scientist (Vegetable Seeds), Office of Director (Seeds), Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004
JOHAR SINGH SAINI Senior Wheat Breeder, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004
PARVEEN KUMAR SINGH Principal Scientist, Centre of Protected Cultivation, IARI, New Delhi

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v88i10.84256

Keywords:

Citrullus lanatus, Cluster analysis, Diversity, Fruit quality, Landraces, Yield

Abstract

Eighty eight watermelon (Citrullus spp) genotypes representing Indian landraces and exotic accessions of diverse geography were characterized for 17 plant, fruit, seed and quality traits during 2015 and 2016. The germplasm evaluated showed significant differences for all the agro-morphological and fruit quality characters. Cluster analysis using Mahalanobis (D²) assigned genotypes into 10 distinct clusters. Clusters I and II containing landraces collected from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan province of India showed least inter cluster distance depicting them to be morphologically close to each other. Other clusters were a mixture of accessions grouped together irrespective of their origin. Cluster × and Cluster III were most divergent. Genotypes of Cluster III were best for earliness in flowering and fruit maturity, Cluster V members best for TSS, lycopene and total carotenoids, whereas Cluster VIII constituted genotypes having largest fruit size and yield/plant. Indigenous landraces excelled in earliness, fruit number, dry matter and lowest 100 seed weight. Exotic germplasm was best for yield and fruit quality parameters. Breeding strategies involving indigenous landraces would serve to broaden the genetic base, crop improvement as well as their conservation.

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