Vol. 7, Issue 7 (2018)

Author(s):
Chetariya CP, Jalu RK, Vaddoria MA and Madariya RB

Abstract:
Fifty diverse genotypes of bottle gourd were evaluated during summer 2015 for correlation and path analysis. The values of genotypic correlation, in general, were higher as compared to the corresponding phenotypic correlation. This indicated that though there was high degree of association between two variables at genotypic level, its phenotypic expression was deflated by the influence of environment. The character fruit yield per vine was found to be significantly and positively correlated with fruit length, average fruit weight, vine length and fruit girthat both the genotypic and phenotypic levels. Thus, these characters were the most important traits and may contribute considerably towards higher fruit yield. Fruit yield per vine also registered positive, but non-significant correlation with number of primary branches per vine, days to first picking, ratio of male to female flowers, number of fruits per vine and number of male flowers. The yield components exhibited varying trends of association among themselves. The interrelationship among yield components would help in increasing the yield levels and, therefore, more emphasis should be given to yield components, while selecting better plant types in bottle gourd. The genotypic path coefficient analysis revealed that ratio of male to female flowers followed by number of female flowers, days to opening of first male flower and average fruit weight exhibited high and positive direct effect on fruit yield per vine and was found to be the most important yield components. The characters fruit length and vine length had moderate and positive direct on fruit yield per plant, while number of fruit per vine, fruit girth and number of node bearing first female flower had low and positive direct effect on fruit yield per vine.