GENETIC VARIABILITY STUDIES FOR YIELD AND YIELD ATTRIBUTING TRAITS IN F2 GENERATION OF BITTER GOURD (MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L)

The present investigation was carried out to estimate phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability in broad sense and genetic advance as per cent of the mean in F 2 generation for fifteen characters in two crosses of bitter gourd.The two crosses are HUB-1 CO-1 and HUB-1 Mysore Local.In the F 2 population of the cross HUB-1 CO-1, high (> 20 %) genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient variation (PCV) was detected for node at which first female flower appeared, sex ratio, average fruit weight, number of fruits per vine and fruit yield per vine.In the F 2 population of the cross HUB-1 Mysore Local, high (> 20 %) genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient variation (PCV) was observed for node at which first female flower appeared, sex ratio, average fruit weight and fruit yield per vine and number of seeds per fruit and it suggests that all of the traits that were noted had greater variability and that there was lots of opportunity for these characters to be improved through selection.High heritability (> 60 %) along with high genetic advance as per cent over mean (> 20 %) was reported in F 2 population of the cross HUB-1 CO-1 for node at which first female flower appeared, sex ratio, average fruit weight, number of fruits per vine, fruit yield per vine and number of seeds per fruit.High heritability (>60%) and high genetic advance as per cent over mean (>20%) was observed in F 2 population of the cross HUB-1 Mysore Local for fruit yield per vine, number of seeds, sex ratio and node at which first female flower appeared.This indicating high heritability was mainly due to additive gene effect and hence selection was highly effective for these characters and indicate a favourable genetic basis for these traits in bitter gourd.