Response to Selection for the Quantitative Traits in Bottle Gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]

Abstract

Present investigations were carried out in bottle gourd to assess the heritability and genetic advance for yield and quality traits. Fifteen hybrids of bottle gourd generated along with their six parents evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replication at the Main Experiment Station, Department of Vegetable Science A.N.D. University of Agriculture & Technology, Narendra Nagar, Kumarganj, Ayodhya during the season of Zaid 2020 and Zaid 2021. High heritability was observed for number of primary branch per plant, days to first pistillate flower anthesis, days to first fruit harvest, days to first staminate flower anthesis and vine length during in Y1, days to first staminate flower anthesis, node number to first pistillate flower appearance, days to first fruit harvest, days to first pistillate flower anthesis and non-reducing sugar during in Y2, days to first pistillate flower anthesis, days to first staminate flower anthesis, days to first fruit harvest and non-reducing sugar during in pooled. High genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for average fruit weight, number of fruit per plant, fruit yield per plant and reducing sugar during seasons Y1 and Y2. The results indicated that these traits had additive gene effect and therefore, these are more reliable for effective selection for their further improvement.