Characterization and Evaluation of Ridge Gourd [Luffa acutangula (Roxb.) L.] Germplasm

Fifty one ridge gourd germplasm were evaluated for yield and qualitative traits during 2011–14. There were significant differences among the germplasm for all the 11 quantitative and nine out of 22 qualitative parameters studied. Regarding plant growth habit, 34 had long vines, 16 had medium long vines and only one germplasm, IC92618 had short vines. Fifteen germplasm lines recorded dark green fruit skin colour, 33 had green coloured fruits and only three germplasm had light green coloured fruits, hence this variability can be exploited for developing green and dark green coloured varieties which are very much preferred in different markets. With respect to fruit taste, 29 lines had normal fruit taste, 18 lines were sweet and four lines, viz., IC92625, IC92685, IIHR-17 and IIHR-51 had bitter fruits. Among the germplasm evaluated, IC20404 (5.2 and 41.3) showed earliness in terms of node number as well as days for appearance of first female flower followed by IC23259 (6.0 and 41.2). Arka Sumeet and Co-1 recorded highest fruit length and fruit weight which are the important yield contributing fruit parameters. IIHR-21 recorded the highest mean value for fruit yield per vine (2.8 kg) followed by IIHR-6 (2.6 kg). This variability present among the germplasm evaluated for yield and quality parameters can be effectively utilized for the improvement of ridge gourd, with IIHR-6 and IIHR-21, the most promising germplasm as common parents and ‘Arka Sumeet’ and ‘CO-1’ as partners to develop character specific hybrids with maximum yield potential.