Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Fifteen progenies of F₃ generations of three crosses viz., RHRBG-26 x RHRBG-24 (C₁: 1 x 2), RHRBG-26 x RHRBG-10 (C₂: 1 x 3) and RHRBG-26 x RHRBG-29 (C₃: 1 x 4) were evaluated for yield and yield contributing characters. This investigation highlighted the magnitude of variability, heritability, genetic advance and correlation coefficient in F₃ generations of bitter gourd.

Wide range of variability was observed in all quantitative characters in three crosses of F₃ generations. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the respective genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters studied in F₃ generations indicating environmental factors influencing their expression to some extent. In F₃ generations in most of the crosses the GCV and PCV were higher for number of branches per vine, node at which male and female flower appeared, weight of fruit, number of fruits per vine, fruit yield per vine, fruit yield per plot and fruit yield per hectare., Which showed greater phenotypic and genotypic variability among the progenies and sensitiveness of the attributes for making further improvement by selection.

High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for most of the characters i.e. number of branches per vine, length of vine, node number at which first female flower appeared, number of male flowers per vine, number of female flowers per vine, sex ratio, length of fruit, diameter of fruit, weight of fruit, number of fruits per vine, fruit yield per vine, fruit yield per plot, fruit yield in most of the crosses of F₃ progenies which indicates preponderance of additive gene action. These characters could be improved by pure line selection or mass selection method.

High heritability combined with low genetic advance was observed for some of the traits for which simple selection would not be rewarding. More the less, they could be utilized as a inbred lines in the hybrid development programme. In such condition selection should be delayed so as to minimize the dominance effect. In all three crosses of F₃ generations significant and positive correlation was observed both at phenotypic and the genotypic level between fruit yield per vine and the yield contributing characters such as length of vine, number of branches per vine, number of fruits per vine, weight of fruit, length of fruit and diameter of fruit. Most of these characters were also positively associated among them.