Correlation and path coefficient analyses in sweet melon (Cucumis melo var. Aegyptiacus L.) under irrigated and drought conditions.

Genotypic correlation and path analyses were carried out for growth, yield and fruit quality traits in 13 sweet melon genotypes collected from different places in Egypt. Seeds of these melon populations were sown under irrigated and drought stress conditions. The analysis of variance for the studied traits showed that the differences among genotypes were highly significant for all studied traits under irrigation and drought stress. Under irrigated conditions, total yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with fruit weight, flesh fruit thickness and fruit length. Positive direct effects were exhibited for fruit weight, number of fruits per plant and stem length on total yield per plant, while maximum positive indirect effects on total yield per plant were exhibited by fruit length and flesh fruit thickness through fruit weight. In case of drought stress conditions, total yield per plant had the highest positive and significant correlation with fruit weight followed by flesh fruit thickness, fruit length and stem length. Fruit weight had the greatest positive direct effect on total yield per plant followed by number of fruits per plant, fruit length and total soluble solid content. Flesh fruit thickness and fruit length had high positive indirect effect on total yield per plant via fruit weight. The results obtained from correlation and path analyses showed that the efficiency in the selection for total yield per plant in sweet melon should increased through the selection of fruit weight under irrigated conditions and fruit weight and fruit length under drought conditions.