STUDY OF TRAIT RELATIONSHIPS IN F2 POPULATION OF RIDGE GOURD (LUFFA ACUTANGULA L. ROXB.): A CORRELATION AND PATH ANALYSIS

The research was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Bagalkot during Rabi 2024 in augmented design.To study correlation and path analysis in the F 2 generation of cross combination Arka Prasan and Sirsi Local.This study evaluated growth, earliness, yield and quality parameters to determine relationship among these traits.Correlation studies and Path analysis in segregating population revealed that total fruit yield per vine had significant positive correlation with vine length at harvest time (0.2460), number of primary branches per (0.3270), days to last harvest (0.5860), fruit length (0.3630), average fruit weight (0.6810) and number of fruits per vine (0.6190).Direct effect on fruit yield per vine was exhibited by traits like vine length at final harvest (0.0140), number of primary branches (0.0066), days to first female flower (0.0280), node at first female flower (0.0080), days to first harvest (0.0292), average fruit weight (0.7877) and number of fruits per vine (0.8645).Correlation studies in F 2 population revealed that total fruit yield per vine had significant positive correlation with number of fruits per vine, average fruit weight and fruit length.Average fruit weight and number of fruits per vine had high positive direct association with fruit yield per vine in F 2 population.Hence, direct selection of these traits would be more useful in the improvement of fruit yield per vine.