Identification of High-Yielding and Drought-Tolerant Melon Genotypes Based on Yield–Trait Combinations: A Comparison of Pcor Index and GYT Biplot Approaches

Abstract

Melon is a spring plant that grows well in Iran's warm, arid climate, so it is in high demand during the summer season. However, the genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) effect and the difficulty of choosing several agronomic characteristics make breeding high–yielding melon cultivars difficult. This study utilized a novel methodology for genotyping that incorporates several characteristics, employing the genotype by yield by trait (GYT) biplot method. This technique uses yield–trait combinations to rate genotypes and highlight their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that genotypes with various combinations of yield and trait can be found and employed to enhance genetic material in melon breeding programs. The best genotypes were 23, 13, and 8, as they exhibited an ideal combination of plant output under drought stress circumstances and agro-physiological traits. The most superior genotype, genotype number 23, can be suggested for breeding operations based on the Pcor index and the GYT biplot analysis. This study shows the usefulness and effectiveness of the recently introduced Pcor and GYT biplot, which can assist breeders in choosing the best cultivars for high-yielding and drought-tolerant melon genotypes.