Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield attributes in bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (mol) Standl.) germplasm

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during Kharif, 2017 to study the genetic parameters for yield and yield attributes in bottle gourd germplasm. Thirty two genotypes were evaluated with three replications in Randomized Block Design. The genotypes exhibited significant differences for all the traits under study. A wide range of variability along with high estimates of PCV and GCV was observed for number of nodes per plant, internode length, node at which first female flower appearance, weight of the fruit (g), fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), flesh thickness (mm), rind thickness (mm), yield per plant (kg) and total yield (t ha-1), indicating high variability available among the germplasm for these characters for further improvement. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for total vine length (m), number of primary branches per plant, number of nodes per plant, internode length (cm), days to first male flower appearance, node at which first female flower appears, number of fruits per plant, weight of the fruit (g), fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), flesh thickness (mm), rind thickness (mm), yield per plant (kg), total yield (t ha-1) and total soluble solids. The results indicated that these characters had additive gene effect and therefore, these are more reliable for effective selection for their further improvement.