Heterosis for yield and yield-attributing traits in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the performance and heterotic potential of 21 ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L. Roxb.) hybrids for critical growth, flowering and yield-related traits. A comprehensive analysis revealed significant variability across all traits, indicating a broad genetic base suitable for effective selection and hybrid development. Among the parental lines, IC-344512 and Arka Prasan were superior for vine length, while IC-344652 and Kerala Local-3 were identified as sources for earliness. The hybrid Kerala Local-3 × Arka Sujat exhibited outstanding overall performance, recording the longest vine (5.54 m), the highest number of branches (7.84), early maturity (44.46 days to harvest) and a maximum yield of 6.96 kg/vine (36.18 t/ha). Furthermore, heterosis analysis revealed its significant superiority over commercial checks. The cross Bangalore Local-1 × Arka Prasan also emerged as a promising hybrid, notable for its early flowering and high fruit weight, making it ideal for short-duration cultivation. The expression of both positive and negative heterosis confirmed the roles of additive and non-additive gene actions. For instance, Bangalore Local-1 × Arka Prasan displayed highly desirable negative heterosis for earliness, while Kerala Local-3 × Arka Sujat showed remarkable mid-parent heterosis for yield per vine (133.30 %). Overall, this investigation successfully identified Kerala Local-3 × Arka Sujat and Bangalore Local-1 × Arka Prasan as elite hybrids that combine high yield potential with other desirable agronomic traits, thus validating heterosis breeding as a powerful strategy to enhance productivity in ridge gourd.