Gene Action and Combining Ability Analysis for Yield and Yield-Related Traits in Ridge Gourd [Luffa Acutangula (L.) Roxb.]

Abstract

Combining ability estimates for growth, earliness, yield and quality parameters were studied following Line × Tester approach in ridge gourd. Fifty-one cross combinations were evaluated for 15 traits. The variance due to SCA was higher than the GCA for all the characters, indicating the importance of non-additive gene action. Comprehensive assessment of parents by considering gca effects of 15 characters studied has resulted into identification of lines, viz., KRG-2, KRG-3, KRG-4, KRG-11, KRG-16 and tester ASM as good combiners and PN as average combiners over all characters. Maximum and positively significant sca effects was observed in the cross KRG-9 x ASJ (0.24) followed by KRG-10 x PN (0.22), KRG-6 x ASM (0.16), KRG-5 x ASM (0.15) and KRG-3 x ASJ (0.14) for fruit yield per vine as well as fruit yield per plot and hectare. KRG-9 × ASJ showed significant sca effects for earliness characters like days to first female flower appearance (-6.19), node to first female flower appearance (- 5.31) and days to first harvest (-8.61).