Department of Vegetable Science, N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad 224 229
* Present address: Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Regional Horticultural research Station, Bajaura - 175 125 (HP)
The genetic variability, heritability in broad sense, genetic advance, correlation and path coefficient analysis were studied in 25 diverse populations of bottlegourd. Wide range of variation was observed in most of the characters. The high value of GCV and heritability estimates associated with greater genetic advance was observed for number of primary branches per plant and yield per plant indicated that these two characters had additive gene effect and, therefore, they are more reliable for effective selection. Correlation coefficient revealed that fruit yield per plant can be successfully improved by making selection or greater fruit number, higher fruit weight, greater number of primary branches and genotypes with lesser number of days to anthesis of first male flower. Path coefficient analysis revealed that maximum weightage should be given primarily to days to the first harvest followed by average weight of edible fruit, number of fruits per plant and days to anthesis of first female flower while formulating selection indices for improvement of yield in bottlegourd.
