GENETIC VARIABILITY AND PATH ANALYSIS IN ASH GOURD (BENINCASA HISPIDA)

Abstract

Study on the variabilities, genetic parameters, character associations and path coefficients between yield and fourteen important characteristics of ten ash gourd genotypes were conducted to determine the critical traits that contribute to yield. The genotypes exhibited a wide range of variability for all the characters studied. Heritability (h\) estimates were high for all the characters except number of female flower per plant, edible fruit length and diameter. Highest Genetic Advance in Percentage of Mean (GAPM) were observed in node order of first male and female flower anthesis followed by plant height at first male and female flower anthesis and edible fruit yield per plant and number of plant per hectare. Edible fruit yield had high negative rp and rg' with plant height for first male and female flower anthesis, days to first male and female flower anthesis and edible fruit yield per plant. Yield had also high negative rg with node order of first male and female flower anthesis and positive rg with number of female flower per plant and edible fruit length. Edible fruit length and weight of individual fruit directly contributed to the yield of ash gourd. For increasing yield, selection should be based on plants bearing more fruits with higher length and weight.