INHERITANCE OF FRUIT YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS IN SPONGE GOURD [LUFFA CYLINDRICA (ROEM). L.]

Abstract

Six generation (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) means of six crosses obtained by crossing eight inbred of sponge gourd were used to study the inheritance of fruit yield per vine and its component characters. All the characters studied showed non-allelic gene interaction indicating the presence of epistasis in determining their inheritance. The fruit characters viz., vine length, number of branches per vine, fruit length, fruit girth, number of fruits per vine, average fruit weight and fruit yield per vine predominantly governed by dominance (h) and dominance x dominance (l) interaction effects which can be improved through heterosis breeding. However, additive x additive component was also predominant in few cases where it is possible to isolate transgrants in advance generations in such cases for fixing that particular character.