Trait association and selection strategies in segregating generations of bottle gourd {Lagenaria siceraria (Mol) Standl} in southwestern Haryana

The present investigations were carried out to evaluate the trait association and selection strategies of F₃ and F₄ segregating generations on growth, flowering and yield-related traits in bottle gourd {Lagenaria siceraria (Mol) Standl\ under the agro-climatic conditions of southwestern Haryana. The study was conducted during the rainy season of 2022-23 at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana using progenies derived from the F₂ population of hybrid 19BOGHYB-2. Five progenies were advanced and evaluated in both F₃ and F₄ generations in a randomized block design with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among progenies for all sixteen traits studied, indicating the presence of substantial genetic variability. In both generations, progeny 1 consistently exhibited superior performance for important traits such as number of primary branches per plant (11.73 and 11.47), average fruit weight (793.33 and 813.33 g), number of fruits per vine (8.13 and 8.40) and fruit yield per plot (64.57 and 68.30 kg). Early flowering and earliness in fruit harvest were also observed in this progeny, making it desirable for selection. The results indicated that selection in early segregating generations is effective for improving yield and its contributing traits. Progenies 1 and 2 emerged as promising lines and may be further utilized in breeding programmes aimed at developing high-yielding and early-maturing varieties of bottle gourd.