Genetic Architecture of Yield in Bottle Gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.)

The genetic architecture of yield was studied in a five parent half diallel cross of bottle gourd at the experimental field of Olericulture Division, Horticulture Research Centre (HRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur during the winter season of 2016-17. The values of mean square for GCA (general combining ability) and SCA (specific combining ability) were highly significant which suggested the presence of both additive and non-additive genetic variance in the population. But the higher magnitude of GCA compared to SCA indicated predominance of additive genetic variance. In most of the cases, the cross between poor and poor parents showed positive SCA effect for fruit yield, which indicated the higher yield. The estimates of mid parent heterosis ranged from −19.0 to 31.8 percent and the better parent heterosis ranged from −28.4 to 20.5 percent. Analysis for genetic components of variation suggested that additive components were more important in the inheritance of fruit yield. This character was observed being controlled by two to three pairs of genes or groups of genes. Narrow sense heritability was 55 percent indicating probability of selection in generations. The graphical analysis also indicated wide genetic diversity among the parents.