Genotype × environmental interactions in ridge gourd genotypes for fruit yield and its contributing traits

Phenotypic stability of 51 ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula Roxb.) genotypes was studied during Rabi-summer seasons of 2011–14. Pooled analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits except for yield/vine suggesting enough genetic variability. Mean squares for environments and genotype × environment (G × E) interactions were significant suggesting that the environments under study are diverse enough and the traits responded to the environments differently. Among the genotypes, RGGP-12 recorded the highest mean yield (37.93 t/ha) followed by RGGP-41 (37.05 t/ha). Genotypes RGG-12, RGGP-41, RGGP-3 and RGGP-7 proved to be most stable genotypes for mean fruit yield/ha, RGGP-48 for fruit number/vine and fruit weight, RGGP-21 for node number for first female flower appearance and fruit number, which can be exploited for these yield contributing traits in the ridge gourd improvement programmes.