Studies on the inheritance of fruit bursting in Indian Snapmelon ( Cucumis melo L. Var momordica )

Abstract Snapmelon is an indigenous crop of Indian origin that has contributed resistance genes against major melon diseases. Despite its importance, Snapmelon is an under-utilized crop, and its cultivation may be limited due to its very short post-harvest life, fruit-bursting on maturity and very thin pericarp that is unsuitable for long-distance transportation. Studies on the inheritance of melon fruit bursting are scanty, and according to the available literature, it is due to complementary gene action. The inheritance of fruit bursting in Snapmelon in our work was studied through an inter-botanical cross between Snapmelon (IC632170, bursting fruit type) and Chandalak melon (Kashi Madhu, non-bursting fruit type). F 2 and backcross populations were developed, and all three populations were evaluated for fruit bursting under polyhouse conditions for two seasons. Chi-square analysis indicated non-significant deviations from the expected 3:1 Mendelian ratio for non-bursting: bursting type fruits in the F 2 population, suggesting the monogenic control of fruit bursting. The backcross with parent Kashi Madhu exhibited 1:0 (non-bursting: bursting) ratios, while the backcross with parent IC632170 revealed 1:1 (non-bursting: bursting) ratio. Selective genotyping in the F 2:3 population of Kashi Madhu x IC632170 using 86 polymorphic Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers revealed the association of the marker CMCT505 for fruit bursting at maturity. Knowledge on the genetic basis of fruit bursting is crucial for designing effective breeding strategies aimed at developing non-bursting Snapmelon varieties suitable for commercial cultivation and improved post-harvest handling.