Assessment of genetic variability in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Information on genetic variability of yield and quality components is of vital importance in crop improvement programme. Plant breeding is mainly the exploitation of genetic variation and in view of the possible decline of variation breeders should always examine means of conserving variability and creating new germplasm. The extent of genotypic variability indicates the amenability of given character for its improvement. The present investigation was carried out during summer season of 2018 in Tarai region of Uttarakhand. The experimental material comprised of 36 genotypes including 8 parents and 28 F1 hybrids. Assessment of genetic variability parameters revealed that there is lot of variation present among the genotypes studied. In general, the value of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters studied in the present findings, indicating the considerable influence of environmental factors on the performance of genotypes for different characters. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters studied in the present findings, indicating the considerable influence of environmental factors on the performance of genotypes for different characters. Moderate to high GCV together with moderate to high heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean was reported for majority of the characters. Thus these traits have ample scope for the improvement of concerned traits through selection.