Heterosis Analysis for Growth and Yield Attributes in Sponge Gourd [Luffa cylindrica (Roem) L.]

Author: Priyanka Khairiya, J.P. Singh and Dhirendra Singh

Download PDF

Abstract

Half-diallel crosses (excluding reciprocals) were used to evaluate heterosis to increase growth, yield, and quality by identifying unique cross-combinations with desirable heterosis in sponge gourd. Forty-five hybrids and ten parents with one check variety were evaluated from July 2021 to June 2022 in a randomized block design with three replications. The growth and yield characteristics of sponge gourd hybrids showed heterotic vigour. Genetic variability was seen for all characters because of significant differences. Heterosis breeding is an important method adopted in many crops for their improvement all over the world. The magnitude of standard heterosis was found in desirable direction for early and yield traits viz., days to germination appearance in the cross Pant Torai-1 × Kashi Kalyani (-25%), Local Material-1 × Kashi Shreya (-25%), RCSG-2 × Kashi Shreya (-25%) and Kashi Kalyani × Pusa Chikni (-25%), days to flowering in the cross Kashi Shreya × Kashi Kalyani (-24.58%), sex ratio in the cross Pant Torai-1 × Swarna Prabha (-51.78%), for vine length in the cross Kashi Shreya × Pusa Chikni (136.55%), for number of branches in Swarna Prabha × Pusa Chikni (26.84%), for fruit length in the cross Pusa Sneha × Pusa Chikni (44.43%), for number of fruits per vine in Pusa Sneha × Local Material-2 (80.04%), for fruit weight in the cross Local Material-1 × Swarna Prabha (51.64%) and for yield in the cross Pusa Sneha × Local Material-2 (162.13%). The three best-performing F1 hybrids, viz., the cross Pusa Sneha × Local Material-2 (162.13%), followed by RCSG-2× Local Material-2 (106.56%), and RCSG-2 × Kashi Kalyani (104.96%), exhibited the highest standard heterosis for total yield (q/hac) in order of merit. Hence, these hybrids can be further tested under different agro-climate for commercial production.

Keywords

Sponge Gourd, Luffa cylindrica, Heterosis, Sex ratio, Half-diallal, Fruit yield

Conclusion

The higher degree of heterosis variability is typically indicated by the wider range of heterosis. The majority of the characteristics (Table 2-6) had either a high or moderate range of heterosis. Relative heterosis besides epistatic effect also indicates presence of dominance effects (intra allelic interaction), while heterobeltiosis is indicative of over dominance. In such situation economic heterosis or mean performance of a cross is more reliable criteria for identifying a commercially valuable cross. The crosses between Pusa Sneha and Local Material-2, RCSG-2 × Local Material-2 that exhibit high heterosis for yield as well as high heterosis for various yield-contributing characters are more suitable because they have stronger heterotic capability when compared to other ones during the hybridization process. To increase the quantity, quality, and earliness of sponge gourds per unit area, further research may be conducted on these crosses before they are suggested for commercial production.

References

-

How to cite this article

Priyanka Khairiya, J.P. Singh and Dhirendra Singh (2023). Heterosis Analysis for Growth and Yield Attributes in Sponge Gourd [Luffa cylindrica (Roem) L.]. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 441-449.