Morphological Diversity, Character Association and Path Analysis in Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes anguina L.)

The present investigation was carried out at the experimental plot, of the Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India, during the kharif season of 2023. The study followed a randomized complete block design with two replications. Morphological diversity and character association were studied in 26 genotypes of snake gourd. The diversity studies revealed that the genotypes were grouped into five clusters in which the cluster I holds twenty genotypes followed by cluster III with three genotypes and cluster II, IV and cluster V comprised of one genotype in each cluster. The Intra cluster D2 values were ranged from 0.00 to 1350.62. Among the five clusters, cluster III with three genotypes had maximum intra cluster diversity (D2 = 1350.62) followed by cluster I (D2 = 1199.42). Correlation studies revealed that traits such as fruit width, seeds per fruit, average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, and total number of female flowers were significantly and positively correlated towards the fruit yield per plant and considered as the important traits for enhancing quantitative traits in snake gourd. The path coefficient analysis indicated that average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, node at the appearance of the first female flower, and days to first fruit setting had the highest direct influence on fruit yield per plant. Consequently, these traits should be prioritized in selection for future improvements.