Studies on genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and correlation in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

A field experiment was conducted at All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) during the Summer season in the year 2015. The present investigation was undertaken with 7 progenies with their 20 plants of each progeny for a cross Phule Green Gold x Hirkani and Hirkani x Phule Ujwala of bitter gourd in F4 generation for evaluating their genetic components such as variability, heritability, genetic advance, genetic advance as a per cent mean and correlation for growth, yield and yield attributes. Significant difference among the progenies was observed for all the traits under study. High value of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variability and heritability estimates were associated with greater values of genetic advance as a percent mean were observed for vine length at last harvest, number of primary branches per vine, number of fruits per vine, average fruit yield per vine, average weight of fruit, Average length of fruit, yield tonnes per hectare. Correlation studies revealed that fruit yield per hectare showed highly significant positive correlation with yield and yield contributing characters It is suggested that characters viz., number of female flower per vine, number of fruits per vine, average weight of fruit, crop duration, average length of fruit and average diameter of fruit should be given priority for selecting high yielding genotypes.