Abstract:
Heterotic performance of biller gourd hybrids was studied in a set of 5 x 5 diallel cross excluding
reciprocals. Analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences for all the characters suggesting
the presence of genetic variability among the studied materials. The degree of heterosis was higher for
days to first male flower opening, days to first female flower opening, nodes to first female flower. days to
first harvest, fruit length, seeds per fruit, branches per vine, fruits per plant and while relatively lower for
remaining traits. The hybrids 1', x P, 1', x 1', and 1', x 1', performed earlier compared to mid and better
parents. Hybrids PI x P" P, x P" 1', x P, manifested the higher heterosis over mid parent and better parent
for fruits per plant while 1', x 1'" PI x 1', for fruit weight. The highest significant positive mid parent
heterosis for yield per plant was obtained from the cross 1'2 x 1', (1130 I percent) followed by 1', x P,
(78.65 percent), P, x P, (59.30 percent) and PI x P, (50.59 percent) while the highest positive better parent
heterosis was obtained for yield per plant in P, x 1', (9425 percent) followed by P, x 1', (4920 percent).
