Correlation and path analysis for yield contributing characters in spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.) genotypes

Abstract

In cucurbits crop, the studies on spine gourds is under exploited crop. The performance of crop regards with yield and quality is not uniform because of its dioecious nature. The systemic and scientific research work to explore the path analysis and correlation in this crop is lacking. To understand the correlation factors related to yield and quality of crop is needed to be investigated hence present work was carried out. Eighteen promising spine gourd genotypes were obtained from various locations of Maharashtra and evaluated during kharif season of 2022-23. The experiment was set up in randomized block design replicated thrice with plant spacing of 1 m x 0.9 m. The correlation studies revealed that, fruit yield ha-1 revealed highly significant difference and positive correlation both in genotypic and phenotypic level with fruit yield plant-1, no. of fruit plant-1, fruit diameter, pedicel length, average fruit weight. Direct and indirect effects were analyzed using path analysis so as to obtain mechanisms of interrelationship between fruit yield ha-1 and its parameters. The genotypic and phenotypic path analysis showed that fruit yield plot-1, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit yield plant-1, no. of fruit plant-1, fruit diameter revealed direct positive effects on fruit yield ha-1. From present investigation, it was concluded that for selecting superior genotypes main emphasis is should be given to fruit yield plant-1, no. of fruit plant-1, fruit diameter, average fruit weight.