Genetic Variability and Correlation Studies in Hybrids of Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)

The present investigation was carried out with ten bottle gourd hybrid varieties including one check arranged in a randomized block design with three replications and observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants for eleven quantitative traits at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, U.P. A detailed analysis of the results on ten bottle gourd hybrid varieties revealed that from analysis of variance it is revealed that all the traits have high significant variability and thus can be used in further analysis. Shreeman 152 showed higher days to first male and first female appearance, number of branches per vine, vine length. F115 hybrid variety found the highest fruit diameter and SW906 were found high in fruit yield per and fruit yield per ha GCV were recorded higher for Fruit yield per ha, Fruit length, Vitamin C and Fruit diameter, indicating a good amount of variability present in the material under investigation. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent mean is observed in Fruit yield per ha, Fruit length, Vitamin C, TSS and days to first female appearances suggesting that selection of these traits would be effective for the desired improvement in bottle gourd. A significant positive correlation was reported between fruit yield per plant with Vitamin C, TSS, fruit yield per ha. A significant negative correlation was reported between vine length and days to first harvest, days to first male and female appearances.