Assessment of combining ability for growth, yield and quality traits in Ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.]

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the combining ability for growth, yield and quality traits in ridge gourd. Thirty F₁ hybrids were developed through a line × tester mating design using ten lines and three testers. The hybrids and their parents were evaluated in a randomized block design with two replications at the Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, during summer 2025. Data were recorded from three randomly selected plants per genotype for various growth, yield and quality parameters to assess general and specific combining ability effects and the nature of gene action governing these traits. The significant gca and sca effects indicate the presence of both additive and non-additive gene action. Hireharukuni Local exhibited the highest and most significant general combining ability (gca) effect for average fruit weight (25.03), fruit length (11.46), number of fruits per vine (3.36), days to first female opening (-1.96), fruit yield per vine (0.98), total soluble solids (0.59), fruit diameter (0.56), vine length at final harvest (0.48), and number of primary branches per vine (0.24), while IC92700 showed the highest gca for days to first male flower opening (-0.93), node at first female appears (-0.49), node at first male flower appears (-0.30), days to first harvest (-3.83) and vitamin C (0.57). Among the hybrids, the highest and most significant specific combining ability effects were observed in IC110893 × Arka Sumeet for fruit yield per vine (0.40), fruit diameter (0.31). IC0648094 × Arka Prasan showed highest sca for days to first female flower opening (-1.80), node at first female flower appears (-0.41) and number of fruits per vine (0.98). The cross IC0648090 × Arka Sumeet (0.74) showed the most favorable sca effect for TSS, while IC201145 × Arka Prasan (1.05) had the strongest sca effect for vitamin C.