Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

The study demonstrated substantial diversity among the nine parent inbreds and their resulting 36 F₁ hybrids, as indicated by the highly significant mean square values associated with 14 distinct characters evaluated within the three environments. Among the 45 genotypes, the hybrid Pusa Santushti × SBBG-31-1 exhibited the highest fruit yield per plant. Furthermore, the research highlighted the potential of specific genotypes for optimal fruit yield and maturity across different environments. Notably, the genotypes Pusa Naveen and HZP-RC-1 displayed early maturity and high yield in all growing conditions, making them promising candidates. In addition to quantitative traits, qualitative traits of bottle gourd were also observed. The general mean values for various qualities were noted, with the highest carbohydrate content in fruit observed at 3.75 g/100 g and the lowest at 3.44 g/100 g. Similarly, calcium content in fruit was comparatively higher at 27.51 mg/100 g during the main growing season, while it was slightly lower at 26.08 mg/100 g during the off-season (early winter). This study provided valuable insights into the variability of bottle gourd genotypes across different growing seasons, offering recommendations for optimal genotypes based on fruit yield, maturity, and qualitative traits.