Genetic diversity analysis in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L. Roxb)

Abstract

Ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L. Roxb.), 2n=2x=26, is an edible vegetable having medicinal properties with its old world origin in subtropical Asian region including India. It is generally monoecious in nature but hermaphrodite, andromonoecious, trimonoecious and gynoecious flowering forms have also been reported. Execution of any breeding programme depends on the magnitude of genetic variability and the degree of transmission of the character from one generation to the next. The phenotype of the polygenic traits in principle is the joint product of genotype and environment. Hence, it is essential to partition the overall variability into heritable and non-heritable components, which will be the pre requisite for the breeding programme to enhance the yield. The information regarding the nature and magnitude of genetic distance among the genotypes will help the breeder in choosing the suitable diverse combinations. Selection of genetically divergent varieties is important in the exploitation of heterosis and in the development of transgressive segregants for an efficient breeding programme. Very little work has been done to estimate the amount of genetic variability in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula Roxb.), a popular and commercial vegetable of India.