Genetic Diversity Studies in Ash Gourd [Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.] from Northern India

The genetic diversity, clustering pattern and ordination (principal components) analyses were undertaken in 26 ash gourd accessions. The accessions showed significant inter-population differences and wide variation for quantitative and qualitative morphological descriptors observed. Low level of difference between the magnitude of PCV and GCV indicated that the descriptors were least influenced by environment and are genetically controlled. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for descriptors such as primary branches, fruits/plant and fruit weight/plant. These accessions were grouped into four major clusters. The clusters were homogenous within themselves and heterogeneous among each other. Cluster IV was the most distinct with more primary branches, higher individual fruit weight, more fruits/plant and highest fruit weight/plant. The PCA in general confirmed the groupings obtained through cluster analysis. PCA revealed four informative components accounting for 67.71% variance. PC1 was related with petiole length, node number at which first female flower appears and yield contributing descriptors like primary branches, fruit length, fruit width and fruit weight.