Heterosis and Combining Ability Studies in Ash Gourd [Benincasa hispida (Thunb) Cogn.] for Yield and Related Traits

Full diallel analysis was carried out for 6 diversified parents at Department of Horticulture, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Karaikal to study the combining ability and heterosis for yield and quality characters. Evaluation of parents based on per se and gca effects revealed that the parents KAU local, CO 2, Ottanchathiram local, Vasundhara, Karaikal local and indu were identified as the best genotypes for improvement of yield combined with yield characters. The hybrids viz., Indu x Vasundhara (P₆xP₄) and Indu x Ottanchathiram local (P₆xP₃)had registered favourable values of mean, significant sca and standard heterosis for yield and quality parameters. Hence these hybrids are recommended for commercial exploitation of heterosis. Considering the per se performance, sca and the standard heterosis, the hybrids Indu x Vasundhara had registered favourable values for the most important characters like yield per plant, individual fruit weight.