Genetic variability studies in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) genotypes under hill zone of Karnataka

Twenty-one genotypes of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) were assessed during the summer of 2023-24 at the Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Mudigere, to evaluate genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among all genotypes for the traits studied. High heritability combined with a high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean was observed for traits such as vine length, number of nodes per vine, internode length, node at which the first male and female flowers appeared, days to first male and female flowering, days to 50% flowering, male-to-female flower ratio, total number of fruits per vine, fruit length, average fruit weight, fruit yield per vine, flesh thickness, rind thickness, cavity length, cavity width, total soluble solids (TSS), β-carotene content and titratable acidity. These findings suggest that these traits can be enhanced through direct selection, primarily due to additive gene action.