STUDY ON GENETIC DIVERSITY OF RIDGE GOURD (Luffii acutaugula Roxb.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the genetic diversity in ridge gourd at the expernienta I Field of Genet icsanl Plant Breeding, Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture lniu I 'he experiment was laid out in Randoinizetl Complete Block Design (RC13D) with three replications. 'tIle study on genetic diversity of 25 ridge goLird genolypes were carried oiii using morphological traits and field performance during February. 2008 to Augiisl . 200. The results of the exper nent revealed that the characters under study varied signi heantly among the genotypes. Among the 25 genotypes G I was the best in respect of number of fruits per plant (32.33) and average yield per plant (5.43 kg). The phenulypic variance was higher than the corresponding genotypie variance in all the characters. indicating gicaler influence of environment on the expression of these characters. l3ased on ft statistics and principal component analysis, the genotypes under study were grouped into live dilij.,rent clusters. Cluster I contained only ('318 genotype and cluster V contained maximum number of genotypes (8) thllowed by cluster I'll (7). cluster IV (5) and cluster It (4). ( 'lustering pattern revealed that the maxinunii inter-cluster (listanee was observed between cinsler I and III 35.77) followed by the distance between clusters I and II (27,27), I mud IV (22.34). III and V (21.05). the lowest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster [I and IV (6.92) followed by IV and V (8.00). It and lIt (9,25), ilie highest mt ia-c luster distance was ideni i lied in cluster II (0.9[5) and the II,vest mtracluster distance was observed in cluster 1 (0.00). Considering cluster meal), cluster IV could be selected fbi yield per plant. number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and liii it length. '1 'he contribution of both frLuit eircuin kreiice and hundred seed weight were niosi responsible to the total divergence in ridge gourd genotypes. Vector I obtained from PtA expressed that first female Ilower bud, fruit circumference and hundred seed weigluu were nlaiou characters that contribute to genetic divergence, which was the reflection of' Iirst axis di lierent hit ion. In vector 2. limit eireuun ièrenee, limit weight. hundred seed weight and number of hulls pet plant played major rule on genetic divergence. ()theu characters have minor contribution in determining genetic divergence. Considering group distance and the agronomie performance, the inter genotypie crosses between U I & (.i25. toItoved by ('ii & 68:01 & 09;Gl &Gto:09&(J25:GN& 025: (ii &Cito:UI & 01 7: (Ii 7 & 025; 0 1 & ('IS and Gil & 018 might be suitable choice for futtn'e hybridization programme.