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ThesisItem Open Access GENETIC DIVERSITY AND CHARACTER ASSOCIATION FOR YIELD AND ITS ATTRIBUTING TRAITS IN BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia L.)(G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar-263145, 2023-07) Shalvi; Maurya, S. K.In the present research, forty genotypes including two check varieties Pusa Vishesh and Pant Karela-1 were evaluated in randomized complete block design during spring-summer, 2023 at the Vegetable Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, to study the sixteen growth and yield related characters. The analysis of variance of the data revealed extremely significant treatment values for all of the characters. The magnitudes of GCV and PCV were found to be higher for number of primary branches per vine, number of internodes per vine, main vine length (m), stem diameter (mm), average fruit length (cm), number of node to first male flower, number of fruits per vine, average fruit diameter (mm), average fruit yield per vine (kg), fruit yield per ha (q) and average fruit weight (g). High heritability together with high genetic advance was reported for the characters, number of internodes per vine, average fruit weight (g), average fruit yield per vine (kg), average fruit diameter (mm) and fruit yield per ha (q), suggesting that these characters had additive-additive gene action and were suitable for direct phenotypic selection. Average fruit yield per vine (kg) revealed a significant positive association with variables such as main vine length (m), average fruit weight (g), average fruit length (cm), average fruit diameter (mm), and fruit yield per hectare (q), indicating the importance of these traits in selection for yield. The inter cluster D2 values of the six clusters revealed that highest inter cluster generalized distance was observed between cluster III and VI, followed by cluster II and cluster III indicating that the genotypes in these clusters can be used as parents in hybridization programme to develop high heterotic hybrids. Relative contributions of the characters to the overall divergence showed that among all the characters, average fruit diameter contributed maximum. The Principle Component Analysis (PCA) depicted that the first five components contributed to 80.02 % of the total variance. The bi-plot of PC-I and PC-II revealed significant heterogeneity, displaying a dispersion pattern of demarcated genotypes. The scatter plot created by PCA highlights the varied genotypes located further away from the place of origin and hybridization between these various genotypes may be used as a parent. Among the 40 genotypes under study, four genotypes namely PBIG-7/23 (259.26), PBIG-18/21 (229.95), PBIG-6/21 (187.16) and PBIG-9/21 (172.22) were found superior against standard check Pant Karela 1 (147.88) for fruit yield per ha (q) and they may be utilized as a commercial cultivar after following standard release procedure as well as future bitter gourd breeding programme.ThesisItem Open Access Standardization of NPK fertigation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum l.) under naturally ventilated polyhouse(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. PIN - 263145, 2022-11) Rawat, Sonam; Bhatt, LalitA field experiment was conducted at Vegetable Research Centre of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India during October to April 2020-21 and 2021-22 to study the effect of NPK fertigation levels and its scheduling on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under naturally ventilated polyhouse. The experiment was laid out in two factorial randomized block design with one additional treatment consisting of four fertigation levels viz., F1 :120 percent of RDF, F2 : 100 per cent of RDF, F3: 80 per cent of RDF and F4 : 60 per cent of RDF and three fertigation scheduling viz., S1 : 15, 10 and 10 per cent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation levels between 15-45 days after transplanting (DAT), respectively, 40, 40 and 40 per cent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation levels between 46-76 DAT, respectively, 30, 40 and 40 per cent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation levels between 77-107 DAT, respectively, 15, 10 and 10 per cent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation levels between 108-138 DAT, respectively, S2 : 25 per cent of each N, P2O5 and K2O between 15-46 DAT, 46-76 DAT, 77-107 DAT and 108-138 DAT, respectively and S3: 20, 20 and 20 per cent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation levels between 15-46 DAT, respectively, 30, 30 and 30 per cent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation levels between 46-76 DAT, respectively, 30, 30 and 30 per cent per cent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation levels between 77-107 DAT, respectively and 20, 20 and 20 per cent N, P2O5 and K2O of fertigation levels between 107-138 DAT, respectively, along with one control (soil application of RDF with flooding) replicated thrice. The findings of present investigation revealed that performance of tomato was significantly influenced by different drip fertigation levels and scheduling. Among the different fertigation levels, fertigation of tomato at 120 and 100 per cent of RDF was found at par and significantly better over other fertigation levels with respect to plant growth characters, yield parameters, quality attributes, nutrients content and nutrients uptake by plant and water use efficiency. Among the three scheduling tested, scheduling S1 was found best in terms of growth parameters, yield parameters, quality attributes, nutrient content and uptake in plant. On the basis of pooled data, fertigation at 100 per cent of RDF with scheduling S1 recorded higher yield (189.51t ha-1), net return ( 1,19,647.12) and benefit-cost ratio (2.92) was best treatment combination. Based on the overall performance, it could be concluded that under naturally ventilated polyhouse, fertigation of tomato at 300:150:150 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 (F2) through scheduling S1 is the best and most economical for cultivation of tomato. Hence, the same is recommended for commercial cultivation of tomato under polyhouse condition.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic divergence in potato (Solanum tuberosum l.)(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. PIN - 263145, 2022-01) Singh, Pappu; Maurya, S.K.The current study was carried out at Vegetable Research Center of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar during rabi season of 2020-21. Twenty- six genotypes including two check namely Kufri Pukhraj and Kufri Chipsona-4 and evaluated in Randomized Block Design using three replications at spacing of 60 cm × 20 cm. Observations were recorded for 15 horticultural traits including emergence percent at 30 DAP, plant height at 40 DAP, number of shoots per plant, number of leaves per shoot, girth of shoot, number of internodes per stem at 80 DAP, number of tubers per plant, average tuber weight, tuber weight per plant, tuber yield, tuber dry matter content, specific gravity of tuber, total soluble solid, ascorbic acid content and protein content. Statical analysis of data was done using the standard programmes for genetic variability in general performance, PCV and GCV, heritability, genetic advance as percent of mean, correlation coefficient, path coefficient analysis and D2 analysis, analysis of variance revealed significant difference for most of the characters. A narrow range of genetic differences between the PCV and GCV indicates that the traits are mostly governed by genetic factors with minimum environmental influence on the phenotypic expression of these traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean were found for tuber yield (97.13), average tuber weight (96.21), total soluble solid (93.50), protein content (92.72), number of leaves per shoot (92.29), ascorbic acid content (90.56), tuber weigh per plant (83.56), number of internodes per stem at 80 DAP (80.06) and number of shoots per plant (70.75) suggested that there is high scope for improvement in these characters through direct selection. Tuber weight per plant, number of tubers per plant, number of leaves per shoot, number of shoots per plant, average tuber weight, plant height at 40 DAP, specific gravity of tuber, number of internodes per shoot at 80 DAP, girth of shoot and emergence percent at 30 DAP were highly significant and positively correlated with the tuber yield. The phenotypic path coefficient showed a direct positive effect by traits like number of leaves per shoot, average tuber weight, plant height at 40 DAP, specific gravity of tuber, tuber weight per plant, tuber dry matter content, number of tubers per plant, emergence percent at 30 DAP on tuber yield, whereas number of internodes per stem at 80 DAP, girth of shoot, protein content, ascorbic acid content, number of shoots per plant, total soluble solid on tuber yield. All the twenty- six genotypes of potato were classified into clusters on the basis of D2 analysis and maximum inter-cluster distance were found between cluster X and VIII (21.73) This indicate that inter genotypic crosses between the members of cluster X and VIII would exhibit high heterosis and is also likely to produce new recombinants with desired traits. Highest cluster mean value for tuber weight per plant (439.83) and for average tuber weight (82.73) were presented in cluster V and X respectively. Among the twenty-six genotypes, six genotypes namely Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Ganga, P-57, Kufri Lalit, Kufri Surya and Atlantic were found most promising for most of the characters. Thus, with this study it may be concluded that above information about genetic divergence can be utilized in potato future breeding programme for the development of high yielding and commercial cultivar.ThesisItem Open Access Heterosis, combining ability and screening for red pumpkin beetle resistance in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.](G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. PIN - 263145, 2022-09) Bhatt, Rajendra; Raghav, ManojBottle gourd is one of the most widely grown cucurbitaceous crops in the world and is known as the versatile therapeutic crop in all vegetables. Exploitation of heterosis in bottle gourd is considered as most latent avenues for quantum increase in yield. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to assess the heterosis and identify the best parent with promising single crosses for yield and its attributing characters and also identify the genotype for resistance against red pumpkin beetle (RPB). The observation on different agro- orphological characters were recorded on five randomly selected plants from each genotype and the appropriate statistical methods were used to draw the conclusion. A half diallel involving eight genotypes were used to produce twenty-eight hybrids at Vegetable Research Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, (Uttarakhand) during zaid 2021. All the thirty-eight genotypes including eight parents, twenty-eight F1s and two check variety were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications during kharif season of 2021 and zaid season of 2022. The pooled mean data of parents and hybrids revealed that the parent P2 and hybrid P3 × P8 had observed maximum fruit yield. Among twenty-eight crosses, the sufficient degree of relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for fruit yield was observed in the top hybrids P4 × P5, P3 × P4, P3 × P8 and P1× P4 under pooled analysis. The assessed pooled data for analysis of variance for combining ability indicated that both additive and non- additive gene action were important for expression of different characters. The pooled estimates of σ² SCA were found to be higher than the corresponding σ2 GCA for all the characters under study indicating the presence of dominance gene action. The pooled analysis of GCA effects revealed that the parents P2, P3 and P5 were observed best general combiner for maximum characters under pooled analysis, where the parents P2 and P8 were observed the best general combiners for fruit yield. The hybrids P1 × P4 and P2 × P7 had good SCA effects for maximum characters under pooled analysis, where the hybrids P1 × P6, P2 × P5, P2 × P7, P5 × P8, P1 × P8, P2 × P4, P1 × P7, P4 × P5, P3 × P8, P1 × P4 and P3 × P4 exhibited good SCA effects for yield and yield attributing characters. The hybrids P3 × P4, P3 × P8 and P4 × P5 exhibited high per se performance along with good SCA effects for fruit yield, indicating the presence of both additive and non- additive gene action and hence, these hybrids may be utilized for heterosis breeding as well as for isolating the promising segregants in advanced segregating generations. During screening of thirty-eight genotypes for resistance against RPB, the results revealed that the population activity of RPB had significant positive correlation with the high temperature, leaf infestation and yield loss that’s why zaid season of 2022 was observed the high and longer peak period for population activity, leaf infestation and yield loss on different growth stages of crop, as compare to kharif season of 2021. The assessed data of leaf trichome and leaf biochemicals for the activity of RPB during both the seasons revealed that the number of trichomes, length of trichomes, total flavonoid, total phenol and total antioxidant were observed high in young leaf and showed less infestation of RPB, while total chlorophyll, total carotenoid and total protein were observed high in mature leaf and showed maximum infestation of RPB. On the basis of population activity and degree of damage on leaves, the genotypes P1 × P6, P1 × P8, P5 × P6 and P5 × P7 with check Arka Bahar were found resistant against RPB during both the seasons and these genotypes having ample scope towards the development of resistant varieties which is an important component for an integrated pest management and may work as a remedy for those areas where RPB is a major constraint in cultivation of bottle gourdThesisItem Open Access Genetic studies for growth and yield characters of coriander (coriandrum sativum l.) germplasm under tarai conditions of Uttarakhand(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. PIN - 263145, 2022-08) Singh, Paras; Singh, DhirendraCoriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is the most important seed spice crop cultivated throughout the world both for seed and green leaf purpose. The present investigation entitled “Genetic studies for growth and yield characters of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) germplasm under Tarai conditions of Uttarakhand” was carried out at Vegetable Research Center, Department of Vegetable Science, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, during Rabi, 2021-22 in an augmented block design-II. Total 93 experimental coriander genotypes were planted in 6 blocks with each block consisted of 15 genotypes including 3 checks viz., Pant Haritima, Hisar Anand and RCr-728. The objectives of the present study were to, estimate the extent of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance, nature and magnitude of association between different characters, direct and indirect effects of various characters on seed yield , genetic divergence in coriander germplasm for exploring crop improvement and identify the elite germplasm lines for growth and yield characters. The observations were recorded for different growth and yield characters viz., number of days to germination, number of days to stem initiation, number of basal leaves, days to 50% flowering, plant height up to main umbel (cm), plant height including main umbel (cm), number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of umbels per plant, number of umbellates per umbel, number of fruits per umbel, number of fruit per umbellate, 1000-seed weight (g), seed yield per plant (g) and seed yield per m2(g). Visual observation were also recorded for 15 morphological characters viz., Leaf margin, leaf lusture, number of leaflets, leaf colour, streaks on stem, stem pubescence, stem colour, early plant vigour, leaf size, corolla colour, seed colour, seed shape, seed size, seed ridges and seed splitting. The results of visual observation revealed that characters like leaf luster, leaf colour, early plant vigour, leaf size, seed shape and seed size contributes more towards diversity then the other characters. The analysis of variance revealed that adequate amounts of genetic variability were present in the experimental materials for all the growth and yield related characters. Hence, provide an opportunity to improve the character through selection. A wide range of variability was found for all the characters studied. The range of variation was maximum for seed yield per plant followed by seed yield per m2, number of secondary branches per plant and number of basal leaves of coriander. PCV magnitude was slightly higher than the GCV for all the characters indicating the minimal effect of environment on these traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for seed yield per plant, number of umbels per plant, seed yield per m2, number of fruits per umbel, number of secondary branches per plant, number of basal leaves, number of fruit per umbellate, number of primary branches per plant, 1000-seed weight and plant height up to main umbel. The seed yield per m2 exhibited significant positive correlation with seed yield per plant, number of umbels per plant, number of fruits per umbel, 1000-seed weight, number of secondary branches per plant, number of primary branches per plant, plant height including main umbel, plant height up to main umbel and number of fruit per umbellate. Path coefficient analysis reveals that seed yield per plant followed by plant height including main umbel, number of fruits per umbel and 1000-seed weight are the traits which show the high direct effects as well as significant and positive correlation with seed yield per m2. Through genetic diversity analysis the whole experimental material was divided into six clusters. The highest inter cluster distance was observed for the cluster III and V, followed by cluster III and VI and cluster II and III. Based on genetic divergence analysis, cluster mean values and per se performance, genotypes found as most desirable to be exploited as superior donors for different characters includes genotype NCor-215 for number of days to germination, SC-1 and JCr-235 for number of days to stem initiation, JCr 61-28 and NDCor- 124 for number of basal leaves, SC-1, JCr-235, LCS 68-59, JCr-345 and NDCor-124 for days to 50% flowering, HD 34-41 and PD 21-22 for plant height up to main umbel, HD 34-41 and PD 21-22 for plant height including main umbel, ACr 15-58 for number of primary branches per plant, CS 57-44 and PD 42-31 for number of secondary branches per plant, UD 30-66 for number of umbels per plant, JCr 61-28 for number of fruits per umbel, PD 21-22, HD 34-41 and PD-43-06 for number of umbellates per umbel, JCr 61-28 for number of fruit per umbellate, JCr 61-28 and LCS 68-59 for seed yield per plant as well as for seed yield per m2 and LCS 68-59 for 1000-seed weight. Based on overall performance, it can be concluded that genotype LCS 32-55, JCr 1-290, CS 57-44, JCr 61-28 and LCS -654 were identified as most promising genotypes as it produce higher seed yield over the best performing checks variety Pant Haritima. Hence, these new high yielding genotypes hold good promise for further exploitation as pure line variety or can be utilized in future for crop improvement programme of coriander.ThesisItem Open Access Study on heterosis breeding, combining ability and gene action in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. PIN - 263145, 2022-08) Nawani, Amit; Maurya, S.K.The present investigation entitled “Study on heterosis breeding, combining ability and gene action in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)” was carried out at the experimental field of Vegetable Research Centre of G.B.P.U.A.&T., Pantnagar during summer season of 2022. The six diverse monoecious bitter gourd genotypes viz., PBIG-3, PBIG-6, PBIG-8, PBIG-9, PBIG-10, PBIG-18, and PBIG-18 were selected and crossed during rabi season (2021-22) in diallel mating design (without reciprocal) to develop 15 F1 crosses. The F1s and parents were sown at a spacing of 150 cm × 75 cm in randomized complete block design with three replications. Observations were recorded on five randomly tagged plants in each entry for 16 quantitative traits of bitter gourd. The data were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. The analysis of variance indicated significant difference among all the genotypes for all the characters. The combining ability analysis revealed that both gca and sca variance were significant for all the characters. Non-additive gene action played a major role in controlling the characters like days to anthesis of first male and female flower, node number to first male and female flower, primary branch per plant, internodal length (cm), main vine diameter (m), days to first harvest, average fruit yield per plant (kg) and fruit yield (q/ha). On the basis of gca effects, among parental lines, PBIG-18 showed highest gca effects for days to anthesis of first male and female flower, days to first harvest, internodal length, number of fruits per plant, average fruit yield per plant (kg) and fruit yield (q/ha). Among hybrids, PBIG-8 × PBIG-18 showed highest sca effects for days to anthesis of first male and female flower, days to first harvest and primary branch per plant, whereas, hybrid PBIG-6 × PBIG-18 showed ideal sca effects for fruit yield per plant (kg) and fruit yield (q/ha). The gene action, predictability ratio and average degree of dominance was observed 1.0, respectively for all the characters except average fruit length, indicating the predominance of non-additive (dominance and epistasis) gene action in the expression of different traits under study, hence heterosis breeding will be an effective tool for genetic improvement of these traits in bitter gourd. The two crosses namely PBIG-6 × PBIG-18, PBIG-9 × PBIG-10 were found best heterotic combinations along with best sca effects for most of the important economic traits and are worth exploiting on commercial scale. These crosses yielded 276.5 q/h, and 259.2 q/ha as compared to the 156.1 q/ha of the standard check i.e. Pant Karela-1.ThesisItem Open Access Augmenting heterosis using Pc, F/Acr genes for protected conditions and molecular diversity studies in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. PIN - 263145, 2022-09) Bisht, Yashpal Singh; Singh, Dinesh KumarThe present investigation was carried out at Vegetable Research Center of G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar with the objectives to estimate heterosis for metric and quality traits, GCA and SCA of parents & hybrids, screening for powdery mildew disease and molecular diversity study in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The analysis of variance for RBD and combining ability revealed the significant genetic differences among 44 cucumber genotypes for the 12 yield contributing traits under study. The magnitudes of PCV estimates were higher than the corresponding GCV estimates for all the characters. Moderate to high GCV together with moderate to high heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean was reported for majority of the characters under study except days to first female flower, days to first harvest, days to last harvest, vine length and internodal length. Three cross combinations namely PPCUC-3 × PCUC-8, PPCUC-3 × PCUC-28 and PPCUC-11 × PCUC-8 in 2021 and PPCUC-4 × PCUC-8, PPCUC-7 × PCUC-8 and PPCUC-9 × PCUC-28 in 2022 have significant positive heterosis for maximum numbers of traits and showed their value in combining ability studies. For quality traits, PPCUC-10 × PCUC-28 followed by PPCUC-3 × PCUC-28 and PPCUC-12 × PCUC-28 have significant positive heterosis for maximum numbers of traits. Therefore, these cross combinations can be commercially exploited for hybrid development after multi location testing. PPCUC-3 was identified as a best general combiner for maximum number traits followed by PPCUC-9 and PPCUC-10. The best specific combiner were PPCUC-9 × PCUC-51 followed by PPCUC-2 × PCUC-8 in 2021 and PPCUC-10 × PCUC-51 was best specific combiner in 2022 for metric traits. For quality traits, PPCUC-12 × PCUC-28 followed by PPCUC-4 × PCUC-51 was best combiner. Hence, these crosses can be utilized in heterosis breeding for improvement in yield and quality related traits. For powdery mildew disease resistant reaction, out of all parents and F1 hybrids only check variety ‘Poinsett’ exhibited moderately susceptible reaction while none of the parents and hybrids showed resistant reaction to powdery mildew. Susceptible reaction against powdery mildew was observed in three genotypes viz., PPCUC-2 × PCUC-28, PPCUC-3 × PCUC-28 and PPCUC-7 × PCUC-8. Eleven SSR primers were used for the molecular diversity analysis. Out of eleven primers, four primers generated polymorphic bands. Total 15 bands were amplified by 11 SSR primers in the 14 cucumber genotypes of which polymorphic and monomorphic bands were 8 and 7, respectively. The range of amplified products was 100-400 bp approximately. Average number of bands per primer was 2. The PIC values of SSR markers ranged from 0.133 (SSR 11742) to 0.408 (SSR 19493) with mean value of 0.262 in which marker, SSR 11742 was least informative while marker, SSR 19493 was most informative due to highest PIC value among other markers, therefore this type of marker system could be efficiently applied to detect polymorphism in cucumber. Jaccard’s similarity coefficient varied from 0.71 to 1.00. Minimum Jaccard’s similarity coefficient was found among PPCUC-11 with PPCUC-2.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic variability and interrelationship of yield and its contributing traits in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench](G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 2022-08) Beri, Sonakshi; Verma, AlkaThe present investigation on “Genetic Variability and Interrelationship of Yield and its Contributing Traits in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]” was carried out during the Kharif season 2021 at Vegetable Research Centre, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, with the objectives to assess genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance, correlation coefficient, path coefficient and genetic divergence for different quantitave traits. Nineteen genotypes including check were evaluated in Randomized block design with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed that highly significant genetic differences were present among the genotypes of okra for ten characters studied. Moderate to wide range of mean values among the genotypes for different characters were observed. Moderate to high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation were reported for majority of characters under study except days to 50% flowering and days to first harvest. High heritability coupled to high genetic advance were recorded in average pod weight, pod yield per plant, number of primary branches per plant, plant height and total fruit yield indicating direct selection for these traits will be effective. Highly significant and positive correlation of total pod yield was observed with pod yield per plant followed by number of pods per plant and average pod weight indicating the possibility of simultaneous selection for these traits. The higher magnitude of positive direct effect on total fruit yield was contributed through pod yield per plant followed by pod length and number of primary branches per plant. Therefore, direct selection of these traits will be gratifying. Genotype PO 405 which was early as well high yielder than the check and PO 414 also found good yielder as well immune to YVMV can be recommended for cultivation. Clustering through D2 analysis revealed maximum inter-cluster distance between cluster II and cluster VI, thus the genotypes grouped under cluster II and cluster VI may yield maximum heterosis upon hybridization and also create wide variability including transgressive segregants in selfed generation.ThesisItem Open Access Study of genetic diversity in Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)(G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. PIN - 263145, 2022-08) Dhathri, Mondeddula; Singh, D.K.Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L., 2n=2x=22) is a tropical and subtropical vegetable of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia and Africa for its edible fruit. Twenty-eight genotypes including two check varieties Kashi Mayuri and Pant Karela-1 were evaluated in randomized block design during March-July, 2022 at the Vegetable Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, to study the nineteen growth and yield related characters namely., main vine length(m), number of primary branches per vine, internodal length(cm), number of nodes per vine, days to first male flower, days to first female flower, node number at which first male flower appears, node number at which first female flower appears, days to 50% flowering, sex ratio, days to first fruit harvest, fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), fruit weight (g), number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per fruit, number of pickings, fruit yield per plant(kg), fruit yield per hectare(q). The pooled data was subjected to statistical analysis. The result of analysis of variance revealed that difference among bitter gourd genotypes was highly significant for all the characters. High PCV and GCV were recorded for main vine length(m), number of primary branches per vine, number of nodes per vine, node number at which first male flower appears, node number at which first female flower appears, sex ratio, fruit length (cm), fruit weight (g), number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per fruit, fruit yield per plant(kg), fruit yield per hectare(q). High heritability and high genetic advance as percentage of mean reported in the character number of fruits per plant followed by days to first female flower, fruit yield per hectare(q), fruit weight (g), number of nodes per vine, number of primary branches per vine, sex ratio, fruit yield per plant(kg), days to first fruit harvest, fruit length (cm), main vine length(m), days to 50% flowering, days to first male flower, number of seeds per fruit, node number at which first male flower appears, fruit diameter(cm), node number at which first female flower appears, number of pickings and internodal length(cm). Fruit yield per plant(kg) exhibited highly significant and positive association with fruit weight(g), fruit length(cm), fruit diameter(cm), number of pickings and number of seeds per fruit indicating the importance of these traits in selection for yield. The path coefficient analysis reported that highest positive direct effect on fruit yield per plant(kg) was contributed by the character fruit weight(g) followed by number of fruits per plant, days to first male flower, number of pickings, fruit diameter(cm) and days to first fruit harvest. The inter cluster D2 values of the eight clusters revealed that highest inter cluster generalized distance was observed between cluster VIII and VII indicating that the genotypes in these clusters can be used as parents in hybridization programme to develop high heterotic hybrids. Five genotypes namely Pusa Rasdar, Punjab karela-15, Pusa Vishesh, PBIG-36 and Kashi Mayuri were superior for fruit yield per plant(kg) and these genotypes may be considered as promising ones for the improvement of the bitter gourd cultivars in breeding programme.