J. Appl. Hort., 3(1):32-36, January-June, 2001
Heterosis studies in bottlegourd [Lagenaria
siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]
D.K. Samadia1 and R.C. Khandelwal2
1
NRC for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner, 2Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture,
Udaipur (Rajasthan), India
Abstract
Experiment on heterosis in bottlegourd was conducted involving 9 parents, their 36 F1 hybrids and one standard check. The crop
was raised in RBD with three replications under four environments. The analysis of variance indicated presence of significant genetic
variability in the experimental material. Mean squares due to genotypes as well as parents and hybrids, environments and their
interaction effects were significant. Hybrids, Banswara Local-1 x IC 92374, Banswara Local-1 x Pusa Naveen and IC 92374 x PSPL
were superior and exhibited significant economic heterosis for fruit yield per plant, number of fruits per plant and its contributing traits
in all the environments. Most of the heterotic crosses were also heterobeltiotic.
Key words: Heterosis, heterobeltiosis, economic heterosis, breeding, bottlegourd, parents, hybrids, environment
Introduction
Due to high remunerative prices in domestic as well as external
market, commercial cultivation of bottlegourd has increased in
India. Hybrid varieties play a vital role in increasing vegetable
production due to their high yield potential, earliness, quality
and resistance attributes. Bottlegourd being monoecious is cross
pollinated and heterosis breeding in cross pollinated crops has
long been known to offer good potentialities for increased yield.
Although, heterosis for yield and yield contributing characters
has been reported in bottlegourd by early workers (Choudhary
and Singh, 1971, Kolhe, 1972, Tyagi, 1973, Sirohi et al., 1987,
Jankiram and Sirohi, 1992), it has not been exploited sufficiently
by plant breeder for improvement. It was therefore, felt necessary
to initiate steps in this direction with a view to evolve high
yielding quality F1 hybrids through heterosis breeding.
Materials and methods
In the present study, nine genotypes of bottlegourd differing in
morphological, phenological, yield as well as fruit characters were
selected. The experimental material comprising of nine parents,
their 36 F1 hybrids (excluding reciprocals) and Varad as standard
check was evaluated under four environments created by sowing
the experimental material on two different dates at two different
locations in a randomized block design with three replications.
Each treatment consisted of a single row accommodating ten plants.
The rows were spaced at 3 m apart and plant at 1 m within the row.
The observations were recorded from the randomly selected 5 plants
leaving the border plants on the traits, viz., number of female flowers
per plant, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant.
Heterosis, heterobeltiosis and economic heterosis were estimated
for all the characters in each environment as well as over the
environment. The data on three important characters of parents
and hybrids are presented in the text.
Results and discussion
Analysis of variance (Table 1) indicated presence of significant
variability among parents and their hybrids for all the three
characters studied. Mean squares due to parents and hybrids were
significant for all the characters. This is indicative of presence of
Table 1. Pooled analysis of variance for various characters in bottlegourd
Source of variation
d.f.
Mean squares
No. of female flower/plant
No. of fruits /plant
Total fruit yield/ plant
Environments (E)
3
130.68**
33.74**
14.30**
Replication/Environment
8
1.68**
0.52**
0.34**
Genotypes
44
190.00**++
64.41**++
39.76**++
(a) Parents
8
153.99**++
37.78**++
43.40**++
(b) Hybrids
35
166.68**++
55.71**++
35.47**++
(c) Parents vs hybrids
1
1646.58**++
581.88**++
160.63**++
Genotypes x Environments
132
5.99**
0.93**
0.62**
(a) Parents x Environments
24
2.86**
0.29**
0.33**
(b) Hybrids x Environments
105
6.35**
1.03**
0.64**
(c) Parents vs Hybrids x Environments
3
18.40**
2.71**
2.03**
Pooled error
352
0.34
0.13
0.10
*, ** Indicates significant at 5% and 1% level, respectively. ++ Indicates significant against respective environmental interaction at 1% level.
16.93**
34.91**
40.90**
29.42**
12.86**
34.22**
15.81**
38.90**
24.88**
40.98**
23.48**
12.38**
23.00**
13.86**
28.95**
50.74**
39.18**
37.71**
41.62**
24.23**
32.29**
36.62**
38.57**
48.98**
12.53**
30.72**
29.42**
38.21**
6.05*
26.17**
42.98**
27.30**
37.12**
35.89**
48.93**
37.26**
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Banswara Local-1 x Long White Profilic
Banswara Local-1 x Pusa Naveen
Banswara Local-1 x Raichur Local-1
Banswara Local-1 x Udaipur Local-1
Banswara Local-1 x IC 92352A
Banswara Local-1 x IC 92374
Banswara Local-1 x IC 42361
Banswara Local-1 x PSPL
Long White Profilic x Pusa Naveen
Long White Profilic x Raichur Local-1
Long White Profilic x Udaipur Local-1
Long White Profilic x IC 92352A
Long White Profilic x IC 92374
Long White Profilic x IC 42361
Long White Profilic x PSPL
Pusa Naveen x Raichur Local-1
Pusa Naveen x Udaipur Local-1
Pusa Naveen x IC 92352A
Pusa Naveen x IC 92374
Pusa Naveen x IC 42361
Pusa Naveen x PSPL
Raichur Local-1 x Udaipur Local-1
Raichur Local-1 x IC 92352A
Raichur Local-1 x IC 92374
Raichur Local-1 x IC 42361
Raichur Local-1 x PSPL
Udaipur Local-1 x IC 92352A
Udaipur Local-1 x IC 92374
Udaipur Local-1 x IC 42361
Udaipur Local-1 x PSPL
IC 92352A x IC 92374
IC 92352A x IC 42361
IC 92352A x PSPL
IC 92374 x IC 42361
IC 92374 x PSPL
IC 42361 x PSPL
E1
Crosses
No.
S.
19.48**
19.25**
5.65**
9.66**
3.08
18.68**
-9.83**
32.43**
35.23**
6.83*
10.45**
6.74*
16.16**
12.05**
42.06**
35.47**
18.34**
15.45**
25.20**
-0.19
18.68**
36.48**
26.85**
31.01**
11.01**
16.05**
24.75**
15.62**
8.08*
29.77**
-2.7
14.02**
19.08**
33.40**
28.75**
28.31**
E2
3.78
26.80**
30.74**
31.09**
12.38**
32.14**
6.90**
40.56**
23.30**
12.77**
28.65**
-0.66
29.19**
2.18
23.22**
36.37**
35.20**
23.20**
39.08**
17.22**
34.10**
27.26**
6.35*
38.43**
-1.22
36.17**
28.51**
38.05**
3.52
26.87**
32.03**
33.50**
33.41**
44.69**
47.84**
26.69**
E3
8.77**
20.92**
6.20**
8.99**
18.55**
27.49**
7.23**
30.10**
36.08**
11.34**
42.75**
35.78**
23.11**
10.21**
44.17**
29.06**
36.14**
30.30**
32.89**
11.20**
18.21**
23.30**
41.98**
35.30**
-7.97**
7.04**
42.34**
19.61**
14.44**
27.97**
6.15*
23.70**
6.51*
58.85**
38.56**
31.54**
E4
12.36**
25.56**
20.63**
20.03**
11.61**
28.15**
5.22*
35.52**
29.63**
17.80**
26.25**
12.66**
22.86**
9.59**
34.39**
37.64**
32.34**
26.50**
34.70**
13.30**
25.89**
30.64**
27.75**
38.17**
3.33
22.24**
31.05**
27.99**
7.92**
27.68**
19.68**
24.72*
24.25**
42.98**
40.91**
30.94**
Pooled
Number of female flowers/plant
Table 2. Estimates of heterosis for various characters in bottlegourd
47.02**
39.90**
43.75**
50.00**
36.36**
71.43**
37.84**
44.41**
48.94**
51.16**
61.78**
49.22**
64.74**
55.64**
36.05**
78.05**
52.60**
58.90**
86.72**
75.00**
36.25**
27.07**
50.00**
59.89**
34.86**
72.69**
25.00**
75.80**
35.77**
55.96**
70.61**
88.89**
83.64**
59.66**
52.20**
53.41**
E1
55.96**
43.77**
28.85**
36.21**
33.33**
80.82**
25.53**
50.41**
71.43**
46.07**
62.38**
23.08**
55.73**
36.71**
33.96**
63.32**
64.49**
55.70**
81.05**
52.98**
26.50**
20.83**
15.07**
44.44**
14.41*
60.40**
22.35**
63.77**
23.26**
39.82**
32.17**
61.90**
37.78**
68.97**
41.26**
49.45**
E2
16.38**
29.14**
29.34**
44.79**
10.49
62.19**
25.71**
39.89**
52.91**
28.62**
55.76**
39.68**
61.98**
30.08**
32.16**
68.72**
46.46**
55.35**
81.67**
58.26**
29.02**
28.17**
37.67**
54.35**
39.71**
62.62**
36.76**
72.41**
54.66**
51.60**
56.08**
110.11**
83.21**
78.25**
58.31**
64.93**
E3
49.83**
41.24**
16.61**
22.15**
25.87**
67.65**
28.63**
46.24**
44.81**
4.10
83.00**
48.08**
36.69**
49.02**
41.02**
67.95**
62.94**
36.88**
59.11**
46.13**
28.87**
43.32**
10.58
42.30**
-6.86
62.03**
37.44**
62.22**
54.59**
46.31**
-0.31
47.62**
25.87**
76.66**
45.10**
70.20**
E4
Number of fruit per plant
41.62**
38.36**
29.54**
38.88**
26.49**
70.56**
29.56**
45.19**
54.62**
32.89**
64.73**
40.00**
55.28**
42.92**
35.64**
69.39**
51.76**
51.97**
77.35**
58.52**
30.11**
29.40**
28.24**
50.14**
20.75**
64.22**
30.01**
68.71**
41.18**
48.43**
40.30**
77.90**
58.02**
70.58**
49.22**
59.26**
Pooled
29.99**
46.20**
35.91**
25.72**
29.01**
70.29**
18.00**
25.11**
2.32
24.07**
-9.16
23.16**
66.67**
62.80**
25.11**
25.18**
22.06**
27.79**
44.23**
59.91**
25.68**
18.95**
29.45**
42.36**
22.67**
36.37**
20.91**
51.53**
30.86**
27.24**
66.92**
87.53**
29.38**
93.86**
53.18**
41.83**
E1
34.40**
34.65**
21.38**
-14.67**
25.34**
71.19**
4.75
25.67**
23.10**
15.82**
-18.50**
-7.97**
52.19**
34.57**
25.36**
17.63**
9.11*
37.69**
38.69**
40.22**
30.52**
6.81
-6.56
29.25**
-2.04
27.68**
5.13
34.24**
10.03
1.15
29.46**
58.93**
1.21
106.21**
45.22**
22.73**
E2
14.12**
27.39**
24.70**
16.90**
10.47**
62.11**
-0.58
22.11**
20.88**
20.35**
-10.72**
42.01**
67.61**
39.34**
24.71**
24.40**
10.09**
37.32**
39.70**
40.68**
21.71**
8.48*
24.18**
41.84**
15.19**
32.74**
21.60**
42.86**
20.37**
17.66**
56.88**
94.39**
31.15**
102.05**
62.17**
38.71**
E3
Fruit yield/plant
30.16**
30.40**
4.88
8.67*
14.66**
58.54**
4.86
25.96**
5.38
-21.03**
28.37**
29.49**
27.26**
51.94**
21.33**
7.11
27.46**
6.25
21.97**
30.95**
19.17**
27.50**
-11.33
17.93**
-25.18**
24.15**
28.72**
38.68**
43.62**
22.39**
-3.1
53.85**
-3.04
103.99**
38.96**
22.27**
E4
27.19**
34.61**
21.49**
8.95*
19.95**
65.49**
6.75
24.68**
12.97**
9.79*
-3.96
21.00**
53.62**
47.29**
24.15**
18.44**
16.75**
27.56**
36.12**
43.17**
24.22**
14.96**
8.34
32.40**
2.34
30.06**
18.49**
41.75**
25.13**
16.84**
37.79**
75.13**
14.95**
101.49**
49.84**
31.56**
Pooled
Samadia and Khandelwal- Heterosis in bottlegourd (Lagenaria siceraria)
33
E1
9.09**
31.89**
10.13**
18.33**
-14.31**
27.72**
-4.47*
22.65**
19.03**
16.35**
20.83**
-10.15**
20.46**
-0.34
21.51**
19.81**
29.95**
6.24**
37.75**
4.37*
19.19**
14.75**
33.07**
20.96**
5.05
13.42**
5.22**
32.51**
-5.40*
21.40**
12.54**
14.45**
14.98**
16.83**
37.62**
26.85**
S.
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
8.58**
18.88**
-9.52**
-0.78
-19.03**
17.94**
-26.99**
22.62**
23.23**
0.00
9.92**
-9.35**
6.16*
-1.53
39.19**
16.33**
7.38**
-9.11**
24.80**
-19.00**
10.20**
28.32**
14.22**
12.80**
3.72
6.59**
6.36
5.21
-4.62
26.56**
-23.22**
9.57*
-0.55
8.53**
19.91**
10.81**
-5.81**
26.33**
12.82**
21.91**
-13.41**
26.23**
-13.41**
27.57**
11.54**
6.58*
25.30**
-17.37**
22.42**
-10.05**
23.22**
17.31**
25.30**
-5.33*
32.40**
-5.33*
21.30**
17.33**
-7.19*
24.39**
-8.42**
28.70**
4.68
34.21**
-10.92**
23.57**
5.24*
25.00**
10.97**
21.60**
40.10**
11.52**
5.83**
17.48**
-6.75**
0.46
-14.72**
21.63**
-14.72**
19.33**
20.21**
9.53**
33.27**
8.60**
11.55**
-0.42
35.29**
16.26**
28.94**
-4.55*
30.41**
9.59**
11.38**
16.91**
12.17**
23.99**
-18.05**
2.02
8.18**
15.37**
-2.73
27.27**
-21.28**
7.79*
-18.75**
31.08**
32.94**
12.32**
Number of female flowers/plant
E2
E3
E4
1.48
23.98**
1.86
10.17**
-15.33**
23.45**
-14.76**
23.07**
18.53**
9.11**
24.16**
-7.61**
14.99**
-3.15
33.71**
17.44**
22.89**
-3.19
31.37**
-7.32**
15.65**
19.16**
11.85**
20.43**
-1.82
12.69**
6.09*
21.70**
-5.99*
26.20**
-6.76**
14.38**
1.49
19.33**
32.51**
15.20**
Pooled
34.97**
27.35**
13.11*
40.98**
6.56
50.00**
11.48*
37.70**
25.56**
27.45**
57.76**
24.84**
34.02*
35.29**
30.72**
30.94**
31.69**
16.14**
78.69**
31.84**
18.83**
4.97
48.57**
14.34**
30.09**
40.96**
2.48
45.90**
15.53**
53.61**
21.31**
80.53**
48.80**
16.80**
27.87**
28.92**
E1
Table 3. Estimates of heterobeltiosis for various characters in bottlegourd
37.10**
31.84**
8.06
27.42**
0.00
57.14**
-4.84
46.77**
39.91**
38.30**
51.85**
2.13
21.43**
14.89**
20.34**
27.80**
26.46**
10.31*
70.63**
9.42*
13.45**
7.41
0.00
8.33*
0.79
37.29**
-3.70
34.52**
-1.85
33.99**
-9.52*
59.37**
5.08
16.67**
20.24**
15.25**
6.19
17.87**
5.67
32.47**
-18.56**
45.31**
-9.28
35.57**
28.51**
13.75*
55.28**
10.00
33.88**
0.00
24.18**
28.51**
23.40**
8.09*
77.96**
8.09*
14.47**
13.04*
20.33*
15.92**
18.70*
36.26**
7.45
42.86**
18.63**
42.86**
7.35
103.26**
37.91**
20.41**
37.96**
21.43**
27.15**
27.44**
-0.58
5.20
-5.78
45.53**
-5.20
46.24**
13.49**
14.10
80.80**
26.23**
3.83
24.59**
20.23**
31.63**
28.84**
-4.19
52.34**
0.93
16.28**
41.60**
-5.74
8.09**
-22.13**
38.15**
16.00**
24.26**
28.00**
26.01**
-31.91**
44.19**
-5.78
19.15**
25.96**
25.43**
Number of fruit per plant
E2
E3
E4
26.22**
26.00**
6.66
26.90**
-4.62
49.59**
-2.04
41.44**
27.01**
21.35**
60.26**
15.45*
23.46**
18.23**
23.78**
29.69**
27.46**
7.70
70.08**
12.61**
15.74**
15.27**
14.50
11.68**
8.19
38.11**
4.93
36.99**
14.29**
38.97**
-2.97
77.19**
21.35**
18.24**
27.97**
22.64**
Pooled
13.46**
45.10**
5.19
12.80**
-18.89**
47.69**
-19.16**
18.54**
-10.11*
7.61
-11.95*
-17.16**
65.53**
21.81**
14.68**
-2.59
10.25**
-19.40**
25.90**
10.01*
19.94**
0.49
-4.86
24.66**
2.78
9.93*
-19.95*
45.82**
-4.08
20.09**
12.71*
58.98**
-16.70**
45.78**
39.45**
0.25
E1
-7.46**
25.86**
-1.53
8.26**
-33.41**
39.00**
-33.05**
16.50**
-1.06
16.25**
-22.79**
-5.51
56.68**
8.53
5.04
-0.88
3.11
-16.87**
21.02**
-4.67
17.48
-8.88**
-15.87**
28.39**
-7.92
8.71**
-24.53**
31.37**
-15.32**
14.03**
1.00
54.82**
-19.58**
50.03**
44.92**
-4.16
Fruit yield/plant
E3
15.04**
32.59**
0.23
-19.98**
-24.12**
48.68**
-30.28**
18.47**
6.75
10.92
-26.12**
-40.36**
49.59**
-1.41
13.06**
-1.65
3.83
-16.19**
22.06**
-5.94
24.87**
-6.85
-38.17**
21.76**
-26.13**
10.82*
-34.78**
23.63**
-24.17**
0.58
-16.76**
30.03*
-37.35**
49.44**
33.05**
-15.68**
E2
6.68
30.11**
-10.91**
-7.94*
-31.98**
42.63**
-32.04**
24.02**
-13.48**
-24.40**
23.28**
-16.37**
14.44**
11.17
0.67
-8.84**
8.16**
-36.93**
10.02**
-15.05**
17.58**
27.06**
-43.84**
10.45*
-46.81**
6.84
-18.36**
29.47**
2.45
5.03
-40.27**
25.33*
-42.19**
49.74**
26.86**
-20.18*
E4
6.80
33.35**
-1.68
-1.64
-27.12**
44.47**
-28.66**
19.32**
-4.41
4.88
-11.48**
-20.34**
46.77**
10.12
8.22*
-3.45
6.30
-22.24**
19.80**
-3.87
19.56**
1.61
-26.99**
21.09**
-20.99**
9.04*
-24.94**
36.51**
-11.30*
9.92*
-11.24*
43.55**
-29.00**
46.18**
36.08**
-10.00*
Pooled
34
Samadia and Khandelwal- Heterosis in bottlegourd (Lagenaria siceraria)
E1
7.65**
30.15**
8.68**
16.76**
-15.44**
26.03**
-5.74**
21.03**
12.21**
-0.59
3.24
-23.24**
7.35**
-14.85**
3.82
12.94**
22.50**
0.15
29.85**
-1.62
12.35**
-6.18**
-26.03**
7.79**
-32.65**
-14.26**
-13.97**
18.09**
-22.65**
-0.74
0.29
-26.62**
-13.09**
4.12*
22.65**
-4.12*
S.
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
14.29**
25.12**
-4.76
4.43
-14.78**
24.14**
-23.15**
29.06**
28.90**
-13.96**
-5.42
-22.00**
10.34**
-15.27**
24.79**
21.67**
12.32**
-4.93
30.54**
-15.27**
15.27**
9.36**
-14.29**
17.24**
-22.17**
-4.43
-9.36**
9.36**
-18.72**
13.46**
-20.20**
-28.57**
-10.84**
12.81**
24.63**
-0.66
-3.51**
30.38**
15.57**
24.89**
-11.30**
29.31**
-11.30**
30.69**
15.11**
-10.99**
10.38**
-30.99**
14.20**
-24.89**
2.90
21.07**
29.31**
-2.29
36.64**
-2.29
25.19**
3.36
-30.99**
16.03**
-31.91**
-7.48**
-7.79**
25.19**
-21.53**
8.85**
-1.83
-20.61**
-7.33**
13.44**
30.69**
-6.87**
-2.23
21.97**
-3.18
4.36**
-11.46**
26.27**
-11.46**
23.89**
18.31**
-14.01**
16.72**
-17.52**
4.78*
-24.36**
17.20**
13.85**
26.27**
-6.53**
27.71**
-11.46**
9.08**
2.39
-11.94**
16.88**
-35.67**
-11.62**
-5.25*
8.76**
-14.81**
11.46**
-25.80**
-33.92**
-29.62**
23.57**
25.32**
-2.71
Number of female flowers/plant
E2
E3
E4
3.97
27.02**
4.35
12.87**
-13.26**
26.48**
-12.67**
26.09**
18.39**
-9.68**
6.30**
-23.52**
9.18**
-19.83**
11.82**
17.30**
22.74**
-3.30
31.22**
-7.43**
15.51**
2.02
-21.07**
14.35**
-30.72**
-5.75*
-9.18**
15.55**
-19.52**
8.05**
-11.47**
-27.33**
-15.12**
13.36**
25.82**
-3.65b
Pooled
10.76*
27.35**
-7.17
15.70**
-12.56**
64.13**
-8.52*
13.00**
25.56**
-12.56**
13.90**
-14.35**
46.64**
-7.17
-2.69
30.94**
31.39**
16.14**
95.52**
31.84**
18.83**
-24.22**
-30.04**
25.11**
-34.08**
4.93
-26.01**
59.64**
-16.59**
14.35**
32.74**
-8.52*
10.76*
27.80**
39.91**
-4.04
E1
19.72**
38.03**
-5.63
11.27*
-12.68**
85.92**
-16.90**
28.17**
46.48**
-8.45
15.49**
-32.39**
43.66**
-23.94**
0.00
33.80**
32.39**
15.49**
101.88**
14.55**
18.78**
-18.31**
-40.85**
28.17**
-40.38**
14.08**
-26.76**
59.15**
-25.35**
11.27*
7.04
-28.17**
-12.68**
38.03**
42.25**
-4.23
-9.25*
22.03**
-9.69*
13.22**
-30.40**
56.83**
-22.47**
15.86**
33.04**
-19.82**
10.13*
-22.47**
44.49**
-29.52**
-0.44
33.04**
27.75**
11.89**
92.07**
11.89**
18.50**
-19.82**
-34.80**
25.11**
-35.68**
9.25*
-23.79**
54.19**
-15.86*
14.54**
15.86**
-17.62**
10.57*
29.96**
48.90**
-2.64
Number of fruit per plant
E2
E3
Table 4. Estimates of economic heterosis (per cent) for various characters in bottlegourd
12.18**
39.09**
-12.69**
-7.61*
-17.26**
73.60**
-16.75**
28.43**
23.86**
-35.53**
14.72**
-21.83**
23.86**
-22.84**
5.58
43.65**
40.61**
4.57
81.73**
10.15**
26.90**
-10.15**
-41.62**
28.93**
-51.78**
21.32**
-26.40**
48.22**
-18.78**
10.66**
-18.78**
-37.06**
-17.26**
42.13**
50.25**
10.15**
E4
8.02*
31.28**
-8.72*
8.60*
-18.37**
69.77**
-16.16**
21.05**
32.33**
-18.72**
13.49**
-22.67**
40.12**
-20.81**
0.47
35.12**
32.79**
12.21**
93.02**
17.33**
20.58**
-18.37**
-36.63**
26.74**
-40.12**
12.09**
-25.70**
55.47**
-19.07**
12.79**
10.12*
-22.33**
-1.51
34.19**
45.23**
-0.47
Pooled
6.05
35.62**
-1.68
5.43
-24.18**
38.05**
-24.44**
10.80**
-17.24**
-24.99**
-34.62**
-42.26**
15.38**
-15.10**
-4.07
-10.32**
1.50
-25.80**
15.91**
1.28
10.42**
-25.38**
-51.28**
-14.68**
-47.37**
-8.04*
-40.56**
8.28*
-28.77**
0.46
-22.61**
-44.99**
-30.32**
0.10
16.66**
-16.14**
E1
12.77**
29.98**
-1.74
-21.56**
-25.62**
45.75**
-31.65**
16.14**
1.45
-22.60**
-36.59**
-58.38**
8.08*
-31.20**
-1.85
-6.54
-1.33
-20.35**
16.00**
-10.61*
18.67**
-20.06**
-60.51**
-12.03**
-52.81**
-3.80
-44.03**
6.11
-34.92**
-12.69**
-39.86**
-57.78**
-45.61**
7.97
15.49**
-26.81**
-18.25**
11.19**
-13.01*
-4.36
-41.17**
22.80**
-40.85**
2.92
-14.69**
-36.15**
-41.88**
-48.10**
-1.04
-40.39**
-15.73**
-14.53**
-11.10**
-28.33**
4.35
-17.80**
1.30
-31.41**
-56.94**
-18.91**
-52.87**
-12.78**
-43.19**
-1.11
-36.25**
-8.52**
-36.21**
-52.56**
-35.48**
-5.24*
16.26**
-23.11**
Fruit yield/plant
E2
E3
5.12
28.21**
-12.21**
-9.29*
-32.98**
40.54**
-33.04**
22.20**
-15.12**
-47.93**
-15.67**
-47.33**
-9.73
-29.98**
-3.86
-10.57**
6.11
-38.13**
7.93*
-16.66**
15.35**
-12.49**
-61.32**
-12.88**
-63.36**
2.03
-44.16**
2.12
-29.92**
0.30
-52.89**
-63.42**
-44.80**
10.22**
21.15**
-23.78**
E4
0.74
25.79**
-7.26*
-7.22*
-31.26**
36.28**
-32.71**
12.55**
-11.52**
-32.79**
-32.73**
-48.95**
3.28
-29.43**
-6.71
-10.63**
-1.61
-28.02**
10.89**
-11.02**
11.03**
-22.78**
-57.40**
-14.79**
-53.90**
-6.00
-42.96**
3.74
-32.60**
-5.25
-37.54**
-54.44**
-38.79**
2.86
17.30**
-22.42**
Pooled
Samadia and Khandelwal- Heterosis in bottlegourd (Lagenaria iceraria)
35
36
Samadia and Khandelwal- Heterosis in bottlegourd (Lagenaria siceraria)
heterosis for all the characters. The mean squares due to
environment and the interaction of genotypes, parents and hybrids
with the environment were significant for all the characters. This
suggested differential response of genotypes to the environments.
For commercial exploitation of heterosis, a hybrid must have
sufficient level of superiority over the standard check. In the present
study, the economic heterosis for fruit yield as well as related
traits were calculated over the standard check Mahyco variety in
all the environments. The most significant economic heterosis for
fruit yield per plant was observed in crosses, Banswara Local-1 x
IC 92374 (38.05), Banswara Local-1 x Pusa Naveen (35.62), IC
92374 x PSPL (16.66), Long white Prolofic x IC 92374 (15.38),
Banswara Local x PSPL (10.80), Pusa Naveen x IC 92374 (10.42)
and Udaipur Local-1 x IC 92374 (8.28) under E1, Banswara Local1 x IC 92374 (45.75), Banswara Local-1 x Pusa Naveen (29.98),
Pusa Naveen x PSPL (18.87), Banswara Local-1 x PSPL (16.14),
Pusa Naveen x IC 92374 (16.00), IC 92374 x PSPL (15.44),
Banswara Local-1 x Long white prolific (12.77) and Long white
prolific x IC 92374 (8.08) under E2, Banswara Local-1 x IC
92374 (22.80), IC 92374 x PSPL (16.26) and Banswara Local-1
x Pusa Naveen (11.19) under E3 and the cross Banswara Local1 x IC 92374 (40.54), Banswara Local-1 x Pusa Naveen (28.21),
IC 92374 x PSPL (21.15), Banswara Local-1 x PSPL (20.20),
Pusa Naveen x PSPL (15.35), IC 92374 x IC 42361 (10.22) and
Pusa Naveen x IC 92374 (7.93) under E4. In pooled analysis,
siginificant economic heterosis for fruit yield per plant was
depicted in the cross Banswara Local-1 x IC 92374 (36.28),
Banswara Local-1 x Pusa Naveen (25.79), IC 92374 x PSPL
(17.30), Banswara Local-1 x PSPL (12.55), Pusa Naveen x PSPL
(11.03) and Pusa Naveen x IC 92374 (10.89).
However, in all the environments three crosses namely, Banswara
Local-1 x IC 92374, Banswara Local-1 x Pusa Naveen and IC
92374 x PSPL exhibited significant economic heterosis for fruit
yield per plant. All these crosses also exhibited significant
economic heterosis for number of fruits, number of female
flowers. These crosses may be identified as potential ones in
individual environment as well as over the environments for the
commercial exploitation of heterosis.
In the present study, in all the environments significant heterosis
for fruit yield per plant was exhibited in the cross Banswara
Local-1 x Pusa Naveen, Banswara Local-1 x IC 92374, Banswara
Local-1 x PSPL, Long white Prolific x IC 92374, Pusa Naveen
x IC 92374, Raichur Local-1 x IC 92374, Udaipur Local-1 x IC
92374, IC 92353A x IC 42361, IC 92374 x IC 42361 and IC
92374 x PSPL and most of these crosses also exhibits significant
heterosis for fruit yield per plant alongwith number of female
flower and number of fruits. Similar results were also reported
by Choudhary and Singh (1971), Kolhe (1972), Tyagi (1973),
Sirohi et al. (1987) and Jankiram and Sirohi (1992) in one or
more of the above characters in cucurbits.
References
Choudhrary, B. and B. Singh, 1971. Pusa Meghdoot and Pusa Manjaritwo high yielding bottlegourd hybrids. Indian Hort., 16(1):15-32.
Jankiram, T. and P.S. Sirohi, 1992. Studies on heterosis for quantitative
characters in bottlegourd. J. Maharashtra Agric. Univ., 17(2):204206.
Kolhe, A.K. 1972. Exploration of hybrid vigour in cucurbits. Indian J.
Hort., 29(1):77-80.
Sirohi, P.S., N. Sivakami and B. Chaoudhary, 1987. Studies on
exploitation of heterosis in bottlegourd. Veg. Sci., 14: 37-41.
Tyagi, I.D. 1973. Heterosis in bottlegourd. Indian J. Hort., 29:219222.