Horticultural
Communication
Biosci. Biotech. Res. Comm. 10(1): 22-27 (2017)
Correlation analysis of musk melon,
Cucumis melo
genotypes grown under different water regimes in
greenhouse
Sheshnath Mishra
1
, Chetna Chugh
2
, A. K. Sharma
3
and Vishwanath Sharma
4
1,2
Division of Vegetable Science, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012
3
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan
Agricultural University (SKRAU), Bikaner-334006
4
Division of Seed Science and Technology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012
ABSTRACT
Drought is most important abiotic stress factor responsible for greater yield loss than any other single stress condi-
tion in India. Water greatly in uences the yield and quality of vegetables and thereby drastically reduces productiv-
ity including muskmelon. So, correlation study among 40 genotypes of muskmelon was done under different water
regimes. The genotypes were sown in polythene bags in four replications for study root and shoot traits. Stress was
imposed after germination of seeds by different levels of irrigation per day (50 ml, 25 ml and 0 ml) till 35 days old
seedlings. The traits like root fresh weight with root dry weight (0.868** and 0.824**, 0.907** and 0.790** 0.896** and
0.837**), root shoot ratio by weight (0.719** and 0.643**, 0.659** and 0.602**, 0.577** and 0.468**) and root length
(0.937** and 0.863**, 0.870** and 0.759**, 0.798** and 0.678**) ; root dry weight with root shoot ratio by weight
(0.907** and 0.869**, 0.869** and 0.846**, 0.755** and 0.664**) and root length (0.844** and 0.792**, 0.903** and
0.741**, 0.760** and 0.640**); root shoot ratio by weight with root length (0.671** and 0.585**, 0.745** and 0.607**,
0.500** and 0.343**) were positive and signi cantly correlated with each other at both genotypic and phenotypic
level under normal and water stress conditions. Hence selection of anyone of these traits enhances the performances
of other traits.
KEY WORDS: MUSKMELON, GENOTYPES, GERMINATION, CORRELATION
22
ARTICLE INFORMATION:
*Corresponding Author: chetnachugh@gmail.com
Received 31
st
Jan, 2017
Accepted after revision 26
th
March, 2017
BBRC Print ISSN: 0974-6455
Online ISSN: 2321-4007 CODEN: USA BBRCBA
Thomson Reuters ISI ESC and Crossref Indexed Journal
NAAS Journal Score 2017: 4.31 Cosmos IF : 4.006
© A Society of Science and Nature Publication, 2017. All rights
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Online Contents Available at: http//www.bbrc.in/
Sheshnath Mishra et al.
INTRODUCTION
Unpredictable drought is the single most important fac-
tor affecting world food security and the catalyst of the
great famines of the past (Gale M., 2003). More than 80
percent of farmers in India are small and marginal (< 1
ha of land) thus having less capacity to cope with climate
change impacts on agriculture, particularly who are mainly
dependent on high return crops like vegetables (FAO, 2010).
Due to succulent nature, water stress affects productivity
and quality of vegetables including melons which will
aggravate in changing climate scenario (AVRDC, 1990).
Although, yield under drought stress is the primary trait for
selection in breeding programmes. But, more emphasis has
been diverted in recent days to improve several physiologi-
cal traits through selection which confer drought tolerance
without much compromising with yield reduction. Plant
growth is one of the most drought-sensitive physiologi-
cal processes due to the reduction in turgor pressure (Taiz
and Zeiger, 2006). Root length of plants under imposed
water stress registered high signi cant increases in root
length above those of plants normal irrigated (Keshavagi
et al., 2006; Abdalla and El-Khoshiban, 2007; Songsri
et al., 2008) and be deeper under drought conditions than
irrigated environment (Basal et al., 2003; Kamara et al.,
2003; Rizza et al., 2004 and Hufstetler et al., 2007). Increas-
ing the severity and duration of drought caused decline in
shoot length (Cabello et al., 2009; Mirabad et al., 2013 and
Pandey et al., 2016).
The root/shoot length ratio is adaptive mechanism in
response to water de cit; it is considered an important
indicator for the ability of a genotype to tolerate drought
stress. Root/shoot ratio increased under water stress
condition to facilitate water absorption (Lambers et al.,
1998). An idea on the extent of association between
traits conferring drought resistance will be much help-
ful to decide upon the traits to be given importance in
selection for drought tolerance. A positive association
between traits warrants the simultaneous improvement
of both the traits while restricting selection to any one
of the associated traits. By understanding the correlation
between morphological traits such as root length, shoot
length, root/shoot ratio), we can reach more ef ciently
for indirect selection of plants in relation to drought at
early seedling stage (Riaz et al. 2013).
Hence, the present study was carried out to nd asso-
ciation between traits like root length, shoot length, root
shoot ratio by length, root shoot ratio by weight both in
water stress and non-stress situations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty genotypes of musk melon (Cucumis melo), pro-
cured from National Agriculture Innovation Project
ICAR, were used for the present investigation. The geno-
types were evaluated under three moisture regimes in
a randomized complete block design with four replica-
tions in Greenhouse at Bio-technology centre, SKRAU,
Bikaner (Table 1). All the accessions were sown in perfo-
rated polythene bags of 110 cm length x 20 cm diameter
dimension in four replications at 30
0
C temperature for
studying root and shoot traits. At initial stage, no stress
was imposed till germination of seeds. Stress was cre-
ated by different levels of irrigation per day (50 ml, 25
ml and 0 ml) in different sets after germination of seeds
and imposed till 35 days old seedlings. After 35 days,
the bottoms of polythene bags were cut opened and the
sandy soil present in the polythene bags were washed
without disturbing the root system. Then observations
were recorded for root length (cm), shoot length (cm),
root fresh weight (gm), shoot fresh weight (gm), root dry
weight (gm) and shoot dry weight (gm). Root length was
measured from root collar to the tip of main root. For
measurement of root dry weight, roots of plants sampled
at maturity were cut from the stem, dried moisture free
in a hot air oven at 80
0
C for 48 hours (till attaining
constant weight). Shoot dry weight was measured after
drying in oven at 80
0
c for 48 hours. The Root shoot ratio
by weight was worked out as follows: Root shoot Ratio
= Root dry weight (in gm)/Shoot dry weight (in gm).
Root shoot ratio by length was worked out as follows:
Table 1. List of muskmelon genotypes used for
present investigation
S. N. Genotype S. N. Genotype
1 ArkaJeeth 21 IIHR-RM-652
2 DurgapuraMadhu 22 IIHR-RM-653
3 EC-564755 23 IIHR-RM-655
4 IIHR-GPW-12 24 IIHR-RM-659
5 IIHR-GPW-15 25 IIHR-RM-660
6 GYNO 26 IIHR-RM-662
7 Hara Madhu 27 IIHR-RM-663
8 MM-06-662 28 IIHR-RM-671
9 MG-5 29 IIHR-RM-673
10 MS-1 30 IIHR-RM-675
11 Punjab-Sunehri 31 IIHR-RM-680
12 PusaMadhuras 32 IIHR-RM-681
13 IIHR-RM-43 33 IIHR-RM-699
14 IIHR-RM-190 34 IIHR-RM-708
15 IIHR-RM-352 35 IIHR-RM-712
16 IIHR-RM-387 36 IIHR-RM-716
17 IIHR-RM-604 37 IIHR-RM-718
18 IIHR-RM-616-1 38 IIHR-RM-719
19 IIHR-RM-619 39 IIHR-RM-720
20 IIHR-RM-624 40 EC-564754
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF MUSK MELON,
CUCUMIS MELO
GENOTYPES GROWN 23
Sheshnath Mishra et al.
Root shoot ratio by length = Root length (in gm)/Shoot
length (in gm).
Statistical analysis: Analysis of variance and the
expectations of mean squares were estimated according
to Gomez and Gomez (1984). Differences between means
were tested using the least signi cant difference (L.S.D.)
test according Waller and Duncan (1969) at the 1 % and
5% level of probability. Correlation coef cients between
any two characters were analysed as described by Al-
Jibouri et al. (1958).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A correlation study provides information to the breeder
about importance of any trait. The estimates of geno-
typic correlation coef cient, in general, were higher in
magnitude than phenotypic correlation coef cient for
most of the characters under normal and water stress
conditions. This indicates that there was high genetic
relationship between the traits under study and environ-
ment has not much in uencing in regarding their actual
association. Similar nding have been reported by Singh
and Chaudhary, (2007).
The traits like root fresh weight with root dry weight
(0.868** and 0.824**, 0.907** and 0.790** 0.896** and
0.837**), root shoot ratio by weight (0.719** and 0.643**,
0.659** and 0.602**, 0.577** and 0.468**) and root length
(0.937** and 0.863**, 0.870** and 0.759**, 0.798** and
0.678**) ; root dry weight with root shoot ratio by weight
(0.907** and 0.869**, 0.869** and 0.846**, 0.755** and
0.664**) and root length (0.844** and 0.792**, 0.903**
and 0.741**, 0.760** and 0.640**); root shoot ratio by
weight with root length (0.671** and 0.585**, 0.745**
and 0.607**, 0.500** and 0.343**) were positive and sig-
ni cantly correlated with each other at both genotypic
and phenotypic level under normal and water stress
conditions (Table 2, 3, 4).
Table 2. Genotypic and phenotypic correlation coef cients among eight characters in muskmelons genotypes under
50 ml (non-stress or 100% water) condition
S. No. Characters Levels
Root Fresh
Weight
(gm)
Shoot
Fresh
Weight
(gm)
Root Dry
Weight
(gm)
Shoot Dry
Weight
(gm)
RDW/
SDW
Root
Length
(cm)
Shoot
Length
(cm)
Root
Length/
Shoot
length
1
Root fresh
weight (gm)
G 1.000 0.230 0.868** 0.458**
0.719**
0.937** 0.366* 0.0009
P 1.000 0.248 0.824** 0.382*
0.643**
0.863** 0.356* -0.003
2
Shoot fresh
weight (gm)
G 1.000 0.272 -0.106 0.304 0.315 0.261 -0.136
P 1.000 0.240 -0.017 0.228 0.272 0.256 -0.142
3
Root dry
weight (gm)
G 1.000 0.340*
0.907**
0.844** 0.375* -0.054
P 1.000 0.274
0.869**
0.792** 0.330* -0.020
4
Shoot dry
weight (gm)
G 1.000 -0.072 0.476** -0.099 0.230
P 1.000
-0.214
0.392* -0.056 0.169
5 RDW/SDW G 1.000 0.671** 0.457** -0.176
P 1.000 0.585** 0.364* -0.113
6
Root length
(cm)
G 1.000 0.268 0.111
P 1.000 0.247 0.156
7
Shoot
length (cm)
G 1.000 -0.900**
P 1.000 -0.886**
8
Root length/
shoot length
G 1.000
P 1.000
**Signi cant at 1% (P= 0.01) level of signi cance, *Signi cant at 5% (P=0.05) level of signi cance
24 CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF MUSK MELON,
CUCUMIS MELO
GENOTYPES GROWN BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Sheshnath Mishra et al.
Table 3. Genotypic and phenotypic correlation coef cients among eight characters in muskmelons
genotypes under 25 ml (50% water or S1) stress condition
S. No. Characters Levels
Root
Fresh
Weight
(gm)
Shoot
Fresh
Weight
(gm)
Root
Dry
Weight
(gm)
Shoot
Dry
Weight
(gm)
RDW/
SDW
Root
Length
(cm)
Shoot
Length
(cm)
Root
Length/
Shoot
length
1
Root fresh
weight (gm)
G 1.000 0.363* 0.907** 0.207
0.659**
0.870**
0.582** 0.368*
P 1.000 0.212 0.790** 0.138
0.602**
0.759**
0.470** -0.250
2
Shoot fresh
weight (gm)
G 1.000 0.188 0.406* -0.039 0.296 0.269 -0.218
P 1.000 0.181 0.339* -0.028 0.187 0.242 -0.208
3
Root dry
weight (gm)
G 1.000
-0.013
0.869**
0.903**
0.501** -0.218
P 1.000 0.004
0.846**
0.741**
0.490** -0.262
4
Shoot dry
weight (gm)
G 1.000
-0.474**
0.111 -0.086 0.143
P 1.000
-0.487**
0.111 -0.053 0.112
5 RDW/SDW G 1.000
0.745**
0.449** -0.269
P 1.000
0.607**
0.422** -0.253
6
Root length
(cm)
G 1.000 0.339* -0.056
P 1.000 0.258 0.053
7
Shoot length
(cm)
G 1.000 -0.937**
P 1.000 -0.924**
8
Root length/
shoot length
G 1.000
P 1.000
** Signi cant at 1% (P= 0.01) level of signi cance, * Signi cant at 5% (P=0.05) level of signi cance
Hence selection of anyone of these traits enhances
the performances of other traits. Thus, indicating the
need for scope of selection (Sandu and Kang, 1998).
Natarajan, (1992) also reported that yield was positively
and signi cantly correlated with root length and root
dry weight in tomato. Similar results were also reported
by Viera et al. (1995); Dias et al. (2002); Ahsan et al.
(2010) and Riaz et al. (2013). Whereas characters namely
root fresh weight, root dry weight and root shoot ratio
by weight were signi cant and positive correlated with
shoot length under non-stress (50 ml water per day) and
50% water stress condition (25 ml water per day) respec-
tively. Riaz et al. (2013) also reported similar observa-
tions. Subburamu et al. (1998) also concluded that yield
was signi cantly and positively correlated with shoot
length. Root fresh weight was signi cantly and posi-
tively correlated with shoot fresh weight in 50% water
stress condition. Ahsan et al. (2010) also reported signif-
icant and positive correlation between root fresh weight
and shoot fresh weight under water stress conditions.
Different response of traits under different environments
for correlation may be due to different response of geno-
types under different environments.
CONCLUSION
The characters like root fresh weight with root dry
weight, root shoot ratio by weight and root length ;
root dry weight with root shoot ratio by weight and root
length; root dry weight with root length were positive
and signi cantly correlated with each other in all the
water regime conditions. Hence selection of anyone of
these traits enhances the performance of other traits.
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF MUSK MELON,
CUCUMIS MELO
GENOTYPES GROWN 25
Sheshnath Mishra et al.
Table 4. Genotypic and phenotypic correlation coef cients among eight characters in muskmelons genotypes
under 0 ml (0% water or S2) stress condition
S. No. Characters Levels
Root
Fresh
Weight
(gm)
Shoot
Fresh
Weight
(gm)
Root
Dry
Weight
(gm)
Shoot
Dry
Weight
(gm)
RDW/
SDW
Root
Length
(cm)
Shoot
Length
(cm)
Root
Length/
Shoot
length
1
Root fresh
weight (gm)
G 1.000 -0.293 0.896** -0.021 0.577** 0.798** 0.220 0.066
P 1.000 -0.268 0.837** -0.003 0.468** 0.678** 0.187 0.066
2
Shoot fresh
weight (gm)
G 1.000 -0.337* 0.227 -0.370* -0.086 -0.062 0.029
P 1.000 -0.313 0.206 -0.334* -0.059 -0.045 0.023
3
Root dry
weight (gm)
G 1.000 -0.099 0.755** 0.760** 0.208 0.0004
P 1.000 -0.062 0.664** 0.640** 0.194 0.009
4
Shoot dry
weight (gm)
G 1.000 -0.683** 0.035 -0.058 0.140
P 1.000 -0.702** 0.060 -0.006 0.074
5 RDW/SDW G 1.000 0.500** 0.215 -0.119
P 1.000 0.343** 0.155 -0.078
6
Root length
(cm)
G 1.000 0.299 0.036
P 1.000 0.220 0.162
7
Shoot length
(cm)
G 1.000 -0.897**
P 1.000 -0.864**
8
Root length/
shoot length
G 1.000
P 1.000
**Signi cant at 1% (P= 0.01) level of signi cance, *Signi cant at 5% (P=0.05) level of signi cance
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GENOTYPES GROWN 27