Genetic Analysis in Segregating Generation of Wax Gourd

Abstract

Wax gourd, commonly called ash gourd in India [Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.], has a long storage life and value can be added after processing. Though there is variation in wax gourd traits, especially fruit characters, little work has been done related to genotype variability. The F2 progenies of the crosses ‘Indhu’ בCO-2’ (cross 1), ‘Indhu’ בVasundhara’ (cross 2), and ‘Vasundhara’ בKAU Local’ (cross 3) and selfed parents were studied. Observations on 15 characters were recorded on single plants in each F2 segregants of crosses for genetic analysis. Cross 2 had the highest fruit yield per plant with the most branches, highest number of female flowers, most fruit, highest fruit weight, greatest fruit diameter, thickest flesh, and highest percentage sex ratio, followed by cross 1. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and high heritability and genetic advance occurred in the F2 segregating population of cross 2 for yield per plant, flesh thickness, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, number of fruit, and sex ratio, indicating that these traits were governed by additive genes. These characters can be used as criteria for selecting plants in the segregating population. From correlation and path analysis, earliness in flower opening, sex ratio, number of fruit, individual fruit weight, and flesh thickness had significant, positive correlations and high direct, positive effects on yield. These characters can be used as selection indices for further improvement through breeding. Frequency distribution of F2 progenies exhibited a transgressive pattern on a wider range in a positive, unidirectional distribution at high proportion over parental values for yield and most characters in cross 1 and cross 2. For these populations simple pure line selection could be used to improve fruit yield per plant.