Combining ability through line x tester analysis in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Combining ability for yield and its components was studied following line x tester approach in cucumber. Twenty four cross combinations (4 x 6) with ten parents were studied for eight characters. Significant differences in the parents indicated that the majority of the parents had diversity for yield per plot, fruit number per plot, fruit length, days to female flower appearance, node number, number of shoots and vine length. Variance due to g.c.a. were higher than due to s.c.a. for all the characters, indicating the importance of additive gene action. The parents, CH-8-2-3-1 and CH-20-3-2-1 were good general combiners for yield, fruit number, node number and number of branches by exhibiting higher g.c.a. effects. Two crosses, viz., CH-10-3-1-2 x CH-1-3-S-2 showed significant positive s.c.a. effects for yield per plot and one cross, CH.2-3-1-2 x CH-1-3-S-2 for fruit number. Most of the crosses that showed significant s. c. a. effects involved both or atleast one good general combiner suggesting involvement of additive x additive and additive x dominance type of gene action. The crosses involved high s.c.a. effects for yield and other component characters should be utilized in crossing programme aimed at improving the desired traits.