Estimation of combining ability in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]

This study was conducted to estimate combing ability in bottle gourd. Fifty eight bottle gourd genotypes comprising 45 hybrids, 10 parents and 3 checks were evaluated in three different environments. The data were analyzed as per Method-II, Model-I of Griffing (1956). Significant GCA effects in desirable direction was evident in the inbred lines P6, P2 and SCA in hybrids P9 x P10, P4 x P6 for days to first harvest on pooled basis for number of branches per vine. The lines with significantly positive GCA effects for number of branches per vine were P5, P6 and hybrids for SCA effects were P3 x P8, P3 x P6 on pooled basis for days to first harvest. For rind thickness the lines with significantly positive GCA effects for rind thickness were P1, P5 and hybrids with significant SCA effects were P8 x P10, P1 x P9, and P1 x P8 on pooled basis. On pooled basis, inbred line P9 was the best general combiner with highly significant and positive GCA effect and the hybrids with significant SCA effects in desirable direction were possessed by P7 x P10 for flesh thicknes. Significantly positive GCA effects for rind thickness were noted in the inbreds, P1, P5 and significant SCA effects in the hybrids were noted in P8 x P10 P1 x P9 on pooled basis for fruit diameter. Significant GCA effects, On pooled basis, in positive direction, was observed in the inbred lines P8, P4 and SCA effects in hybrids P6 x P9 in positive direction followed by the hybrid P6 x P8, P7 x P8, P4 x P7 and P4 x P10 for yield per square meter. These genotypes could be useful in future breeding programmes for development of hybrids in bottle gourd.