Estimation of combining ability effect in bottle gourd (Lagineria siceraria (Molina) Standl.) for yield and attributing characters for thirty - six hybrids through line x tester design

General and specific combining ability effects were studied for 15 characters in line x tester design were studied in bottle gourd - 12 lines, 3 testers and 36 hybrids. The effective hybrid combination identified was Subam x Punjab Komal in terms of days to first harvest, fruit length and number of fruits and number of fruits vine-1. Among the lines, Subam (L3), Mysore Local (L9) and Manadipet Local (L4) and the testers Punjab Komal (T3) and Arka Bahar (T2) looked as best general combiners for quality and yield traits. Accordingly, analysis of the general combining ability effects and average performance of the parents showed that the lines Subam (L3), Mysore Local (L9) and Manadipet Local (L4) were the best parents for increasing productivity, while the testers Punjab Komal (T3) and Arka Bahar (T2) were found to be good parents for enhancing earliness. Subam x Punjab Komal (L3 x T3) was identified as the result of hybrid selection based on specific combining ability effects. This hybrid showed more specific combining ability effects for sex ratio, number of fruits vine-1, days to first female flower anthesis, days to first harvest and node of first female flower appearance, fruit length which are the yield attributing characters in addition to high per se performance. This hybrid can be utilized in either heterosis breeding or cross breeding programmes for good quality and quantity yield in bottle gourd. Combining ability analysis helps the breeders to identify the gene of interact and use that in improving yield.