Genetic Diversity for Growth and Yield Traits in Bitter Gourd

Abstract

ABSTRACTKnowledge of the magnitude of genetic variability for marketable fruit yield and quality traits and relationships among these traits is needed to improve quality breeding in Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) genotypes. Twenty-six genotypes of bitter gourd, collected from diverse climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh, were evaluated in May 2012 for mean, genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, and genetic gain in respect to the quantitative characters vine length, branches/plant, days to first female flower appearance, node at which first female flowers appear, days to first harvest, fruit size, ridges/fruit, marketable fruit/plant, average fruit weight, fruit yield/plant, number of seed/fruit, and total marketable fruit yield·per hectare. Significant differences among bitter gourd genotypes indicated the presence of significant variation for all traits. The highest yielding genotype, NUBG-14-5, had the highest average fruit weight (135.00 g). Genotype JBG-5 took the shortest time to first female flower appearance (49.67 days) and time to first harvest (62.33 days). The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) had higher values than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits, indicating close association between genotype and phenotype. The PCV and GCV were high for branches/plant followed by fruit yield/plant and total marketable fruit yield·per hectare. High heritability estimates, coupled with greater genetic gain, occurred for number of branches/plant followed by fruit size and number of seed/fruit, indicating nonadditive gene activity, and these could be improved through hybridization. Genetic advance was high for total marketable fruit yield·per hectare. Adequate genetic variability was present within available bitter gourd germplasm to allow improvement of marketable yield and quality traits. A selection procedure based on more fruit per plant, harvest duration, and average fruit weight may be effective in improving fruit yield.