Genetic Analysis of Fruit Length and Weight in Two Cucumber Populations Using the Inbred Backcross Line Method

The inbred backcross line method was used to analyze the inheritance of fruit length and weight in cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.). Two populations were produced by crossing a small-fruited, adapted breeding line as the recurrent parent with 2 unadapted and large-fruited lines as donor parents. Marker genes were used in both populations to test for Mendelian expectations. Segregation was normal for all markers in both populations. Nevertheless, significant deviations from binomial expectations occurred, indicating that there were difficulties in estimating gene number and genetic variance without bias. Heritability was moderately high for fruit length and intermediate for fruit weight in both populations. No major genes controlling fruit length or weight were detected using the inbred backcross line method, and only estimates of minimum gene number were obtained. Inbred backcross lines having fruit weight equal to or greater than the large-fruited donor parent were recovered in both populations. However, in neither population were lines recovered with fruit as long as those of the donor parent.