Genetic Divergence Studies in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

A study was conducted during Zaid 2005, in Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the nature and magnitude of genetic divergence in 30 bitter gourd genotypes. Results revealed the presence of wide genetic diversity. The genotypes were grouped into 6 clusters based on Mahalanobis D statistics using Tocher's 2 method. The clustering pattern of genotypes revealed that the genetic diversity was independent of the geographical diversity. Among the 6 clusters, maximum numbers of genotypes were found in cluster V, while clusters III was found to be mono-genotypic. Among the 12 quantitative characters studied, individual fruit weight constituted a maximum of 64.14% contribution to the divergence, followed by days to first female flower appearance. Ranking of genotypes based on intra-cluster mean performance for these characters which are major contributors of genetic diversity revealed its usulness in selecting parents for heterosis breeding.