Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl)

Twenty genotypes of bottle gourd were evaluated for genetic variability, heritability, and geneticadvance in bottle gourd at Horticulture Research Centre, SVP University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.) during the year 2019–2020. The genotype exhibited significant differences for all the traits under study. A wide range of variability along with high estimates of the phenotypic andgenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV and GCV) was observed for vine length, number of leaf, no ofprimary branches, days to first flower initiation, days to 50% flowering, days to first fruit set, number offruit per plant, fruit length, fruit girth, average fruit weight, days to first fruit harvest, duration of thecrop, fruit yield (q/ha) indicating considerable variability among the genotypes. The highest GCV (21.19)and PCV (21.34) were observed for fruit length while high heritability with genetic advance wasobserved for day to 1st flower initiation, day to 1st fruit set, vine length (cm), number of primary branch, fruit length cm, fruit girth cm, average fruit weight (gm), day to 1st fruit harvest, number of fruit perplant and yield q/hac. The results indicated that these characters had additive gene effect and therefore, these are more reliable for effective selection for their further improvement.