DHARMATTI, P. R.SANGEETA KUTTY, M2019-02-202019-02-202004-01-20Th-6920http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810095946Bitter 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 l»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.ennullThesis