Character association studies and path coefficient analysis for yield and yield attributing traits in Ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.]

To know the association of various growths and yield attributing traits with the complex yield, eighteen genotype of ridge gourd were subjected to study the genotypic and phenotypic correlation and path analysis. High genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) was observed for yield per vine, chlorophyll content of leaf and proline content of leaf indicating little influence of environment and the presence of inherent association between characters. Vine length (0.460), number of leaves (0.578), number of fruits per vine (0.993), fruit length (0.830) and days to first female flowering (−0.269) to the fruit yield per vine at both genotypic and phenotypic level, the associations of these characters is in the desirable direction. Thus, selection for these characters will improve the yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of leaves per vine, tendril length, number of fruits per vine and fruit diameter showed positive direct effects on total yield per vine.