The effect of genetic distance on yield and quality in F1 hybrid production of Kırkağaç melon

This study was conducted in Çukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, Research and Application Area during 2019-2020. In the study two female parents (7-32, SR-31) were selected from Kırkağaç (Cucumis melo L. var. inodorus) group and crossed with male parents (264-59, 67-27, Sİ-6-200S, SR-32, 7-20, SR-10-200S, 56-8, DA-60, 82-83, DA-5, Sİ-18, DA -8, BU-33) which have genetic similarity from 29% to 93%. Paternal lines with different similarity indices were crossed reciprocally and 29 Fı hybrids weredeveloped. The plant growth, total yield and some fruit characteristics performances of hybrids were examined in open field conditions. Also heterosis and heterobeltiosis rates were calculated. In the first year, MN-27 (88.92%, 60.71%) hybrid, the SR-31×7-20 hybrid with 82% similarity index had the highest fruit weight, and MN-12 (36.41%, 33.09%) hybrid, SR-10-200S×7-32 hybrid with 71% similarity index had the highest rate of heterosis and heterobeltiosis in the second year. When all the data obtained as a result of the study are evaluated together, SR-31×DA-5 (MN-19), SR-31×DA-8 (MN-25), SR-31×7-20 (MN-27) and 7-20×SR-31 (MN-28) hybrids were found promising.