GENETIC DIVERSITY, CORRELATION AND PATH CO-EFFICIENT ANALYSIS IN WAX GOURD (Benincasa hispida Thunb.)

Abstract

Twenty seven genotypes of wax gourd (Benincasa hispida Thunb.) were studied in a field experiment at the experimental field of Sher-e-I3angla 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 was a great deal of significant variation for all the characters among the genotypes. High genotypic co-efficient of variation (CCV) was observed for fruit yield per plant, number of male flower, number of female flower. Low genotypic co-efficient of variation (CCV) was observed for leaf length, leaf breadth, internodes distance, fruit length. In all cases phenotypic variances were higher than the genotypic variances. High heritability with low genetic advance in percent of mean was observed in leaf length and leaf breadth which indicated that non-additive gene effects were involved for the expression of these characters 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, fruit breadth, and 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, pedicel length of female flower. internodes distance at genotypic level. Path co-efficient analysis revealed that maximum direct contribution towards yield per plant with traits of fruit weight followed by fruit breadth, pedicel length of female flower and number male flower. Highest intra.cluster distance was found in cluster V. low in UI and no distance was found in cluster I. Among six clusters the highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster I and cluster IV and lowest between cluster 111 and cluster VI. Considering all the characters the 020 (BD-364), G 7 (B!)- 354), C, (B!) 319) and 016 (BD-349) were selected for Ibture breeding programme.