Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advances analysis for quantitative traits in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] genotypes

Abstract

Thirty-one genotypes of bottle gourd were evaluated at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to find out the genetic variability, heritability and potential for screening suitable genotypes for future improvement programmes. Considerable amount of variability was noticed for various traits. The maximum phenotypic and genotypic coefficient (PCV and GCV) was observed for diameter of fruit (26.06 and 27.10 cm), number of primary branches (24.48 and 27.24), nodes to first male flower (22.77 and 24.87) and weight of 100 seeds (20.12 and 21.25), while moderate values were estimated for number of fruits per vine (19.21 and 20.82), nodes to first female flower (18.58 and 21.48), vine length at the time of final harvest (14.69 and 17.34), fruit yield per vine (14.56 and 15.66) and fruit yield per hectare (15.51 and 16.55). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for diameter of fruit, length of fruit, nodes to first male flower and weight of 100 seeds indicating that these traits were under the strong influence of additive gene action. Moderate heritability and low genetic advance values were observed for the characters days to first male flower opening, days to first female flower opening, days to first fruit harvest and days to 50% flowering. The promising genotypes giving high fruit yield were GH 30 and GH 32 and early maturing were IC 092414 and GH 34.