Combining ability analysis in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica Roem.)

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to study combining ability in sponge gourd. Experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. The evaluation was done during spring-summer season of 2019 for 12 horticultural traits. The analysis of variance indicated significant difference among all the genotypes for all the characters. Variance due to GCA was significant for all characters except for days to first female flower and number of primary branches. Variance due to SCA was significant for all characters. On the basis of GCA effect for early fruit yield and its components the parents identified as promisingly was PSG-40 and PSG-37. The crosses PSG-15 × PSG-40, PSG-37 × PSG-40 and PSG-84 × PSG-17 were best for sca effects for most of the important economic traits and can be utilized in future breeding programme.