Genetic Variability and Character Association for Fruit Yield and Its Attributing Traits in Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during the summer season of the year 2024-25 in the experiment field of Department of Vegetable Science at Pt. KLS College of Horticulture and Research Station, Rajnandgaon (C.G.), under Mahatma Gandhi University of Horticulture & Forestry, Durg (C.G.). The experiment was laid under Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and the experimental material consisting of eighteen genotypes of Bottle gourd. Eighteen bottle gourd genotypes were growth, flowering and yield traits. Analysis of variance revealed that mean sum of squares due to genotypes was highly significant for all characters. Among eighteen genotypes, the genotype BOGVAR-10 was noted for 1st germination (5.16 days). The genotype BOGVAR-3 was noted for earliness in 50% germination (8.37 days). The maximum plant height (1.88 m) in 60 DAS was recorded in BOGVAR-8 and maximum plant height (6.03 m) in 90 DAS in the same genotype. The genotype BOGVAR-14 was also noted for early days taken to first male flower (27.14) and first female flower appears (30.00) DAT. The genotype BOGVAR-3 was also recorded the earliest node for first male flower (3.46) and first female flower (8.23). Maximum number of fruits per plant (14.42) was recorded in BOGVAR-3. The genotype BOGVAR-3 was noted for days taken to 1st fruit harvest 41.43 DAT. Maximum fruit length (57.42 cm) was recorded in BOGVAR-18. Maximum fruit diameter (13.24 cm) and average fruit weight (1784.26 g) was recorded in BOGVAR-4. Maximum fruit yield per plant (12.76 kg) and fruit yield per hac. (383.90 q) was recorded in BOGVAR-8.