Genetic parameters in melon sub-accessions from traditional agriculture

ABSTRACT Family farming in Brazil holds a high diversity of melon germplasm, composing an important source of alleles for breeding programs. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and select genotypes from a population of melon sub-accessions from different botanical varieties grown by family farmers, based on morphological parameters. Two experiments were conducted, one in 2019 and another in 2020, in a complete randomized block design, with three replications and five plants per plot, using 27 melon sub-accessions (generation S2) from family farmers, and a commercial variety. Nine quantitative descriptors were evaluated. Assumptions of ANOVA were tested, followed by individual and joint analyses of variance. Significant differences were found among sub-accessions for all descriptors evaluated, with heritabilities higher than 83% and significant genotype-environment interactions for 88.8% of the characteristics evaluated. Thus, genetic variability was found among sub-accessions, with predominance of genetic effects over environmental effects, denoting the possibility to obtain genetic gains by the improvement of several characteristics of agronomic interest. The sub-accessions BGMEL66.0, BGMEL111.0, and BGMEL112.0 are recommended for inclusion in breeding programs focused on obtaining good prolificacy and small fruits with high soluble solid contents. BGMEL sub-accessions (108.3 and 108.5) can generate progenies with high prolificacy, and sub-accessions of the variety momordica can be used for generation of progenies focused on shortening the crop cycle and increasing fruit size.