Correlation and path coefficient analysis for growth, yield and its associated traits in sponge gourd [Luffa cylindrica (Roem) L.]

Abstract

Sponge gourd is one of the most important cucurbit, both as rainy and summer season vegetable which is grown throughout the country and world. It is an annual and monoeceous cucurbit plant and it has a gelatinous compound luffien. Luffa is domesticated species and commonly called as sponge gourd, loofah, vegetable sponge or dish cloth. It originated in subtropical Asian region particularly India (Kalloo 1993). It belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae with diploid chromosome number 2n = 2x = 26 which includes about 118 genera and 825 species.