International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

Custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) breeding requires early evaluation of progenies to identify cross combinations with favourable germination and seedling growth. The present investigation evaluated 20 F₁ cross combinations involving Selection No. 11, Balanagar, Sindhan, Mammoth and GJCA-1 under shade-net nursery conditions at Junagadh Agricultural University, Gujarat, from February to May 2025. The experiment was conducted in a Randomised Block Design with three replications, using 20 seeds per cross combination in each replication. Germination percentage was assessed at 30 days after sowing, and plant height, stem diameter, leaf length and leaf width were recorded at 90 days after sowing. Significant differences were observed among the cross combinations for germination behaviour and early seedling growth. Balanagar × Sindhan (C₆) recorded the earliest emergence (22.66 days) and the highest germination percentage (86.92%). Selection 11 × GJCA-1 (C₄) produced the greatest plant height (30.65 cm) and stem diameter (3.70 mm), whereas GJCA-1 × Mammoth (C₂₀) recorded the greatest leaf length (8.72 cm) and leaf width (3.32 cm). Reciprocal combinations showed contrasting performance for several traits, although maternal, paternal and cytoplasmic effects were not separately evaluated. The observed trait-specific variation indicates that multiple cross combinations should be considered during early progeny evaluation. The identified progenies provide material for subsequent nursery and field assessment at later growth stages.