GENETIC VARIABILITY STUDIES IN BITTER GOURD (Momordica cbarantia L.)
Loading...
Date
2004-01-20
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES GKVK, BANGALORE
Abstract
Bitter gourd is an important cucurbitaceous vegetable with good nutritive
value and medicinal importance. The present study was undertaken to elicit
information on the nature of variability in bitter gourd genotypes, correlation and
lĀ»nlh analysis studies of component characters with yield and to screen the
gniotypes against major pest and disease.
The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes
for all characters studied except days to opening of first female flower and days to
first harvest. The phenotypic coefficient of variability was more than genotypic
( ocfficient of variability for all characters under study.
Most of the important characters showed high genetic advance over mean
with high heritability, indicating the influence of additive gene action for these
I rails, which could be improved by simple selection procedure.
Correlation studies revealed that yield per plant was positively and highly
significantly correlated with number of leaves at 50 per cent flowering, number of
seeds per fruit, fruit length, number of fruits per plant and fruit weight both at
phenotypic and genotypic level. Hence, selection for these traits may help in
ini[)rovement of yield. The path coefficient analysis for yield indicated that
number of fruits per plant and fruit weight were the most important factors
mnuencing the yield, thereby deserving greater weightage during selection for
yield.
The 40 bitter gourd genotypes were grouped into 10 clusters based on
vniues. The clusters VI and IX were most divergent, thus the genotypes of these
( iiiHters could be used in hybridization programme to get higher heterotic
hybrids.
From the study high yielding genotypes such as BLG-1,PRD-2,NRNl
,iC44418,DWD-2,1032817,1085614,1068316, promising line with respect to
rc.sistance to fruit fly (BLG-1,1044418,1032817,1085614), and downy mildew
resistant genotypes uiz. White long and BLG-1 could be screened. These
genotypes can be further utilized as such or in hybrid combinations. The
genotype BLG-1 was most promising with respect to yield and resistance to pest
and disease.
Description
Keywords
null