The combining ability (hybrid performance) of breeding lines is often determined to measure selection progress for yield. Plant breeders utilize this information to develop breeding lines with higher combining ability. The objectives of this study were to measure the specific combining ability for yield traits over three selection cycles from four pickling cucumber populations with Gy 14, a popular pickling cucumber inbred; and to determine the change in specific combining ability for yield traits in four populations improved through recurrent selection. Four pickling cucumber populations, North Carolina wide base pickle (NCWBP), medium base pickle (NCMBP), elite pickle 1 (NCEP1), and hardwickii 1 (NCH1), were developed and improved through modified half-sib selection from 1983 to 1992 to improve yield per se and fruit quality in each population. Eleven families were randomly selected from each of 3 selection cycles (early, intermediate, advanced) from each populations and were hybridized to Gy 14. Plants were sprayed with Paraquat to defoliate them and to simulate once-over harvest. The experiment was a randomized complete-block design with 22 replications per population arranged in a split plot with the four populations as whole plots and the three cycles as subplots. The combining ability for fruit quality rating of NCWBP and NCMBP increased as the number of selection cycles increased. Conversely, selection for higher yield per se decreased the combining ability of the NCEP1 population for improved fruit quality. In most instances, the combining ability of each population exhibited a constant response over selection cycles for each measured yield trait.
COMBINING ABILITY OF SWEET PEPPER BREEDING LINES FOR THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF YIELD
