GENETIC DIVERSITY, CORRELATION AND PATH CO-EFFICIENT ANALYSIS IN SNAKE GOURD (Trichosanthes anguina L.)

Abstract

Twenty seven genotypes of snake gourd (Tricliosant/ics anguina 1.) were studied in a field experiment at the experimental field of Sher-e-l3angla Agricultural University, Dhaka. during March 2010 to August 2010. The objectives of the study were to measure the variability among the genotypes for yield and yield contributing characters, estimate genetic parameters. association among the characters and their contribution to yield. There existed significant variation for all the characters among the genotypes. High genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) was observed for pedicel length of male flower, number of male flower, number of female flower. Low genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) was observed for leaf length, fruit breadth, days to first male flowering, days to first female flowering. In all cases phenotypic variances were higher than the genotypic variances. High heritability with low genetic advance in percent of mean was observed in days to first female flowering which indicated that non-additive gene effects were involved for the expression of this character and selection for such trait might not be rewarding. High heritability with high genetic advance in percent of mean was observed in number of male flower, number of female flower, yield per plant indicated that this trait was under additive gene control and selection for genetic improvement for this trait would be effective. Correlation studies revealed that highest significant association of yield per plant with the characters fruit weight followed by fruit breadth, number of male flower, fruit length at genotypic level. Path co-efficient analysis revealed that maximum direct contribution towards yield per plant was with traits of number of fruit per plant, fruit weight. fruit breadth and number male flower. Highest intracluster distance was found in cluster ill, lowest in I. There was only one genotype in cluster II and Vi. Among six clusters the highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster II and cluster Vi and lowest between cluster 1 and cluster IV. Considering all the characters the 014 (BD-l633). 019 (1313-1642), 02 (BD 1608) and Gil (BD-l627) were selected for future breeding programme.