Genetic Variability and Correlation Studies in Some Varieties of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Eleven exotic and six indigenous cultivars of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) were evaluated for yield and quality characteristics. Total fruit yield was significantly higher (P 0.01) in the indigenous cultivars; while some exotic cultivars like W12757, Ashley, Addis and Regal had longer vines (P 0.01) and fewer days to flowering (P 0.05). Linear correlation analyses showed that mean fruit number per plant and length of vine at 6 weeks were significantly and positively associated with yield (P 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). Genetic analyses indicated that Phenotypic Coefficients of Variation (PCV) were higher than genotypic coefficients of variation in all of the attributes studied; while length of vine at 6 weeks had the highest genetic gain. High heritability (broad sense) estimates of 94% and 85% were obtained for days to flower initiation and days to 50 percent flowering, respectively. Length of vine at 6 weeks, days to flower initiation and days to 50% flowering had high to moderate genotypic variance, high to moderate heritability and greater genetic gain. Selection can, therefore, be based on these characters, and their phenotypic expression would be a good indicator of their genotypic potentiality