Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding
Interspecific crosses in genus Citrullus involving two
accessions of C. co/ocynthis i. e. cv. GP 3 and cv. GP
177 (diploid, 2n = 22), wild perennial and a cultivar of C.
vulgaris var watermelon cv. RW 177-3 (diploid, 2n =22),
a cultivated annual yielded 8 hybrid fruits. Interspecific
hybrids showed intermediary values between the parents
for most of the attributes studied, though reciprocal
differences were there. Hybrid plants were earlier in
opening of female flower than respective female parent.
F
1 hybrids of the crosses involving C. colocynthis as
female parent showed flower shedding and delayed
maturity of fruits, consequently, resulting in high rate of
seed abortion. Pulp colour, pulp taste and seed coat
colour were intermediate in crosses involving C. vUlgaris
var. watermelon as seed parent. The character expression
of F1s surpassing with the parent either in positive or
negative direction was comparable to transgression effect.
Resemblance to either of the parent and intermediate
character expression were attributed to dominance and
additive gene action, respectively.
Keywords: C. colocynthis, C. vulgaris, reciprocal crosses, pollen fertility
Year: 2003
Volume: 63
Issue: 1
Article DOI: NA
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906
R. S. Sain, P. Joshi1, D. L. Singhania1 and S. N. Sharma info_circle
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