Studies on gene action in the indigenous lines of bittergourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Diallel analysis of 28 F₁ hybrids of bittergourd (Momordica charantia L.) involving 8 parents (excluding reciprocals) for 8 quantitative characters indicated occurrence of both additive and non-additive gene action for the characters days to male flower number of primary branches per vine, vine length, number of fruits per vine, fruit length and fruit yield per vine. Unequal distribution of genes at loci showing dominance was common in parental lines, showing the presence of partial dominance and dominance in character expression. Presence of dominance and complementary type of gene action for yield indicates that heterosis breeding would be more advantageous to get higher fruit yield in bittergourd.