Heterotic potential in elite lines of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (THUNB.) Matsum. & Nakai]

A study was conducted to assess the extent of heterosis of watermelon in a line x tester mating design at the Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, PAU, Ludhiana. Forty F₁ hybrids, ten lines, four testers and standard check (WMH-7) were evaluated in 2019 for yield and component traits. The analysis of variance indicated significant variability among all the genotypes for all the traits. The cross combinations exhibiting the highest positive and significant heterobeltiosis for TSS were WM-5 x EC-829870; for yield/plant Yellow-2 x EC-829870 and for the number of fruits/plant was 5419–2011 x EC-829828. Yellow-2 x KFF 1-1-2 performed best with the highest heterosis over the check for total carotenoids, lycopene, vitamin-C and the number of days taken to first fruit harvest. W-6-3-3-3-2 x KFF 1-1-2 and Barmer x Sugar Baby exhibited the highest standard heterosis for TSS; number of fruits/plant and yield/plant, respectively. These hybrids can be tested further to exploit commercially.