Department of Botany, J.B. College Baraut, Meerut - 250 611, India
Genetic variability and heritability of different characters were studied in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L.) with 80 genotypes. High degree of variation was observed in respect of all the characters studied. The estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation were low as compared to phenotypic coefficient of variation for all the characters under study. The highest GCV and PCV was observed for sex ratio on branches. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance (%mean) was observed for node number for appearance of first male and female flower, length of main axis, number of primary branches, male and female flowers/plant, sex ratio on whole plant, main axis and branches; fruits/plant, fruit set (%), fruit length, fruit weight, seeds/fruit, 100-seed weight and yield/plant, indicating greater scope of improvement through selection.
