Interpretation of Mean Values and Extent of Heterosis Bottle Gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]

Aims: To Study the mean values and heterosis for fruit yield with associated traits of bottle gourd.

Study Design: Randomized block design.

Place and Duration of Study: The seeds of F1 hybrids were produced during summer 2021 at Potato Research Station, S. D. Agricultural University, Deesa.

Methodology: The experimental material consisted of twelve parents, their 35 Line × Tester crosses and one standard check (ABGH 1).

Results: The study was undertaken to reveal mean and per cent heterosis level in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]. An examination of mean data of parents with (F1) hybrids for fruit yield and associated traits revealed that DBG 5 amongst females and ABGS 11-17 amongst males, while NDBG 132 × PUNJAB LONG, LOCAL × ABGS 14-25, and LOCAL × ABGS 11-17 amongst hybrids exhibited higher mean value for fruit yield per plant with some of its associated traits. The significant relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis were perceived in many hybrids for different component traits. The F1 hybrids, NDBG 132 × PUNJAB LONG (75.30, 53.04 & 21.64 %), LOCAL × ABGS 14-25 (34.99, 27.77 and 20.71 %) and LOCAL × ABGS 11-17 (31.82, 23.49 and 19.27 %) manifested significant and positive heterosis over mid parent, better parent and the standard check ABGH 1 for fruit yield per plant. These crosses were also given best mean performance, hence hold promising for commercial exploitation.

Conclusion: The analysis of variance revealed that significant differences among the parents for all traits. This indicated a sufficient variability in the parents (i.e., lines and testers) for studied trait. The best heterotic crosses NDBG 132 × PUNJAB LONG, LOCAL × ABGS 14-25, LOCAL × ABGS 11-17 and GPBG 108 × ABGS 11-24 for fruit yield per plant revealed significant positive heterosis over mid parent, better parent and standard check.