Heterosis in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Eight parental lines and their 28 F₁ hybrids of bitter gourd obtained from half diallel were studied to investigate the extent of heterosis for yield and its contributing traits. The parents P-7 (Hirakani), P-6 (DVBTG-7) and P-1 (Phule Green Gold) were observed to be three top performing parents for the fruit yield per plant. The negative heterosis which is desirable for days to appearance of first female flower, node number of first flower and days to first harvest were common in most of the crosses. Significant heterosis was recorded over better and best parents. In order of merit F₁ hybrids P₁ (Phule Green Gold) x P₄ (DVBTG-5), P₃ (MC-84) x P₅ (Co. White Long) and P₁ (Phule Green Gold) x P₃ (MC-84)were recorded to be three best performing F₁ hybrids for fruit yield per plant. The higher yield recorded by these hybrids could be due to increased number of fruits per plant. The best performing F₁ hybrid P₁ x P₄ which recorded 41.48 per cent higher yield over best parent may be exploited for commercial cultivation.