Development and assessment of biotic stress tolerant cucumber hybrids using land races and commercial varieties

Abstract

Cucumber growers suffer significant economic losses due to yield reductions caused by pests such as
fruit flies and diseases like powdery mildew and downy mildew. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to
reduce losses caused by these pressures is to grow resistant cultivars. This study aimed to estimate important
genetic parameters to approximate inbred line performance in the F1 generation and identify appropriate F1
cross combinations resistant to these biotic stresses. Thirty F1 hybrid combinations were screened, along
with 13 parents (ten diverse stable lines and three testers) and a standard check. The genotypes UHF-CUC-11,
UHF-CUC-13, UHF-CUC-6, UHF-CUC-15, UHF-CUC-8, Solan Srijan and F1 cross-combinations UHF-CUC-11
× Solan Srijan, UHF-CUC-13 × Solan Srijan, UHF-CUC-6 × K-75, UHF-CUC-15 × Solan Srijan and UHF-CUC-8
× Solan Srijan were found superior for these biotic stresses in the experimental results. Additionally, the
predominance of non-additive gene activity due to genetic complementation between parents suggests that
heterosis breeding could help enhance important biotic stress tolerance in cucumbers. The resistant genotypes
and hybrid combinations identified in the current research can be employed to integrate the resistant genes
into the preferred elite backgrounds of cucumber to develop bio tic stress-resistant varieties/hybrids