This study aimed to develop early maturing, high-yielding, and good quality parthenocarpic gynoecious Beit Alpha cucumber hybrids that are well-suited to different growing conditions. Researchers used 11 parent cucumber lines to create 28 first-generation (F1) hybrids using a line × tester method. They also included two commercial hybrids (PKH-11 and Emirstar) as checks. These hybrids were tested for yield and fruit quality during both winter and summer seasons in a poly-net house.
The results showed significant differences between genotypes, environments, and their interaction for nearly all traits, except fruit diameter. This variation suggests good potential for selecting hybrids that perform well across seasons.
The study found strong heterosis (hybrid vigor) compared to commercial checks, and that testers contributed more to trait improvements than lines. Overall, parental lines PBRK-16 and PK-1, along with testers PBRK-8 and PBRK-1, showed stable and strong performance in terms of average yield and general combining ability (GCA). Among the hybrid combinations, PBRK-16 × PBRK-8, PBRK-16 × PBRK-1, and PBRK-16 × PBRK-18 had consistently high fruit yields and number of fruits per plant.
However, the fruits from PBRK-16 × PBRK-8 were shorter and thicker than what the market prefers. Since medium-sized Beit Alpha cucumbers (15–18 cm long, 125–170 g in weight) are more desirable, the hybrids PBRK-16 × PBRK-18 and PBRK-16 × PBRK-1 are better suited for commercial cultivation in poly-net houses throughout the year. Most traits showed low narrow-sense heritability and strong non-additive gene effects, suggesting that hybrid breeding is an effective way to improve them.
These promising hybrids can also be used in future breeding to develop high-yielding, good-quality pure lines. Year-round production of these hybrids can help increase farmers' income, improve food security, and better meet market demands.
Source: www.nature.com