Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Valan Kakri Cucumis sativus var utilissimus L Germplasm

Abstract

newline The study entitled quotMorphological and Molecular Characterization of Valan Kakri (Cucumis sativus var. utilissimus L.) Germplasmquot was carried out during Kharif season of 2019-20 and 2021 at the Department of Horticulture and Department of Molecular biology and Biotechnology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur. newlineValan kakri fruits were collected from different locations of Udaipur district and observations were recorded for different characters viz. fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), fruit weight (g), flesh thickness (mm), rind thickness (mm), number of seeds per fruit, seed cavity length (cm), seed cavity breadth (cm), seed length (mm), seed breadth (mm), 100 seed weight (g), T.S.S. (°Brix), acidity of fruit (%), ascorbic acid content (mg/100 g of fruit flesh), dry matter content (%), fruit shape, skin colour, stem end fruit shape and blossom end fruit shape. Analysis of various parameters viz. GCV, PCV, heritability, genetic advance, correlation coefficient analysis, genetic diversity analysis and molecular diversity analysis was conducted. The analysis of variance for fifteen traits showed significant differences. The value of phenotypic coefficient of variation was found higher than genotypic coefficient of variation for all the characters studied. High heritability with high genetic advance was recorded for fruit weight. High heritability with moderate genetic advance was recorded for seed cavity length. Therefore, these traits can be utilized in further selection programme. newlineThe result of correlation analysis revealed that fruit length showed highly significant positive genotypic and phenotypic correlation with seed cavity length, fruit weight, flesh thickness, fruit diameter, seed cavity breadth, seed length, seed breadth and 100 seed weight Valan kakri accessions were grouped into sixteen clusters revealing that a considerable genetic diversity is present among them. newlineTen primers of ISSR were used for analysis of molecular diversity. The result of ISSR analysis generated total