Path Coefficient analysis for yield and yield attributing traits in spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.)

Abstract

Ninety genotypes of spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.) were evaluated in a randomized block design with two replications at the Vegetable Research Field, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur, (M.P), during kharif season of 2013. Correlation and path coefficient analysis were carried out to study the character which were associated and contributed towards the final yield. Twelve quantitative characters viz., first female flower appearance, days of anthesis to fruit maturity, fruiting period, fruit length (mm), fruit weight (g), fruit width (mm), individual fruit weight (g), fruit rind thickness (mm), number of seeds/fruit, number of fruits/plant, days to last fruit harvest and fruit yield (g) for identification of the potential selection indices. The correlation coefficient analysis revealed that fruit yield had significantly positive genotypic correlation with days to first female flower appearance, Fruiting period, fruit length, fruit weight, fruit width, individual fruit weight, fruit rind thickness, number of seeds/fruit, number of fruits/plant and had significantly negative correlation with days of anthesis to fruit maturity. Path analysis revealed that number of fruits per plant had positively high direct effect on fruit yield at genotypic (0.7898) and phenotypic level (0.8476) indicating that these traits influenced yield in spine gourd.