GENETIC VARIABILITY, CORRELATION AND PATH CO-EFFICIENT ANALYSIS OF SOME YIELD AND YIELD CONTRIBUTING CHARACTERS IN BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia L.)

Abstract

Twenty genotypes of bluer gourd (Momordica charantia L.) were studied in a field experiment conducted at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Dhaka, during April 2008 to September 2008. 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. Considering genetic parameters high genotypic co-efficient of variation (CCV) was observed for branches per vine, yield per plant and number of fruit per plant whereas low genotypic co-efficient of variation (CCV) was observed days to first male and female flowering. In all cases, phenotypic variances were higher than the genotypic variance. Differences between genotypic and phenotypic coefficients revealed that the major portion of the phenotypic variance was genetic in nature. High heritability with low genetic advance in percent of mean was observed in days to first female flowering which indicated that nonadditive gene effects were involved for the expression of this character and selection for such trait might not be rewarding. High heritability with high genetic advance in percent of mean was observed for yield per plant and vine length indicated that this trait was under additive gene control and selection for genetic improvement for this trait would be effective. The results obtained, showed that yield per plant had high positive and high significant relation with number of nodes per vine. Correlation studies revealed that highest significant association of yield per plant with fruit diameter and number of fruit per plant at genotypic level. Path co-efficient analysis revealed maximum direct contribution towards yield per plant with maximum number of fruit per plant followed by vine length. Considering all the characters the G1 (Shaparan), 05 (Rampali gaj), 09 (Nabil), 012 (Nandita) 014 (Eureca), G16 (ha) and G19 (Maharaj) were selected for future breeding programme.