Heterosis and combining ability for fruit yield and its component traits in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]

Abstract

Heterosis studies with 50 hybrids generated through line x tester (10 lines and 5 testers) analysis were carried out to estimate the extent of heterosis over better parents and standard check (NDBG-104) for fruit yield and its contributing traits in bottle gourd. The range of heterosis observed in number of crosses exhibiting significantly negative and positive heterosis over better parent and standard check showed considerable differences from Kharif season to summer season. The results revealed that cross Punjab Long x Thar Samruddhi in E1, Punjab Long x PSPL in E2 and Arka Bahar x Punjab Komal in E3 exhibited significant positive heterosis over better parent for fruit yield per plant. For standard heterosis, the cross ABG-1 x NDBG-517 in E1, NDBG-104 x Thar Samruddhi in E2 and Pusa Naveen x PSPL in E3 had significant and high heterotic effects in positive directions. The crosses which had larger estimates of heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for fruit yield per plant, also exerted significant positive heterotic effects for fruits per plant, fruit weight and main vine length in atleast two environments. These cross combinations can be exploited in breeding programmes in bottle gourd.