Hybridization and yield test of reciprocal watermelon in the greenhouse scale

Politeknik Negeri Lampung, Food Crop Cultivation Department, Seed Technology Study Program, Soekarno Hatta No. 10, Rajabasa, Bandar Lampung 35141, Lampung, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: anung@polinela.ac.id

Abstract

This study aims to select reciprocal watermelon crosses in a new superior variety breeding program using the single cross method. The male and female parents used in the study consisted of 12 pure lines (WM 08-19-1 ♂x♀ WM 06-27-4; WM 01-3-3-4-1 ♂x♀ WM 04-12-11-1-1; WM 11-1-2-2-8 ♂x♀ WM 10-1-1-9-10; WM 03-27-2 ♂x♀ WM 08-6-3; WM 12-1-5 ♂x♀ WM 04-1-5-10; WM 16-1-5-6-3 ♂x♀ WM 06-1-11-5). The study used a one-factor randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications. Data analysis used analysis of variance and the least significant difference test (LSD) at the 5% level. The fastest harvest age was found in the WM 2110-1011 line and the fruit with the highest sweetness level was found in the WM 2110-1011 line. The results of the reciprocal hybridization research conducted, watermelon lines that have a plain striped type on the fruit are lines WM 06-27-4, WM 04-12-11-1-1 and WM 10-1-1-9-10. The thin striped type is found in the WM 08-6-3 line and the thick striped type is found in the 04-1-5-10 line and WM 06-1-11-5. The line that has yellow flesh is WM 04-1-5-10. The results of this study indicated that the collection of pure lines and reciprocal crosses are used as selection materials for the F1 hybrid watermelon breeding program.