Genetic variability, character association, and diversity analysis of yield and yield-contributing traits in bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61308/VFDA8993Keywords:
Lagenaria siceraria, genetic variability, heritability, path analysis, genetic divergence, Mahalanobis D²Abstract
Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.) is a vital vegetable crop requiring continuous genetic improvement to overcome stagnant yield barriers. A field experiment was conducted to assess the genetic variability, correlation, path coefficients, and genetic divergence among 15 bottle gourd genotypes. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant variations among genotypes for all 21 traits studied. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was generally higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), indicating environmental influence. High heritability (97.30%) coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (56.78%) was observed for the node number of the first female flower, suggesting additive gene action and the potential for direct selection. Correlation studies revealed that yield per plant exhibited a highly significant positive association with the sex ratio (male to female) and days to germination. Path coefficient analysis demonstrated that fruit length (2.62) and days to first female flowering (2.31) exerted the highest positive direct effects on yield. Genetic divergence, assessed via Mahalanobis D² and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), grouped the genotypes into five distinct clusters. The maximum inter-cluster distance (54.79) was observed between Cluster IV and Cluster V. Based on genetic distance and agronomic superiority, genotypes G8 (BD 4536) and G3 (BD 4527), alongside G13 and G10, were identified as highly divergent and promising parents for future hybridization programs aimed at maximizing heterosis.
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