Vol. 10, Issue 11 (2021)

Author(s):
M Sai Sindhu, Samapika Dalai, Barsha Tripathy and K Krishnam Raju

Abstract:
The field experiment was conducted at Bagusala Instructional Farm, Department of Horticulture, M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Parlakhemundi, Odisha, during the spring-summer 2021, to evaluate the performance of twenty-three genotypes of ridge gourd in a randomized block design with three replications. The ANOVA revealed highly significant differences among twenty-three genotypes for all the growth, flowering and yield parameters. Among the genotypes used for evaluation, the best performing genotypes for growth parameters were Challavanipeta local with the longest vine length (504.34 cm) and Chhattisgarh local with a maximum number of primary branches (4.27) at 90 days after sowing (DAS). Similarly, Lazzat and PHS-10 were the best-performing genotypes for earliness criteria, taking the least number of days (28.20 and 32.47, respectively) for first male flower and female flower appearance. PHS-10 was the earliest fruiting genotype (40.47 days), and Munagapaka local took the longest time to reach harvest (120.60days). In the case of yield and yield attributing parameters, Vijayawada local had the longest fruits (27.69 cm) and maximum average fruit weight (177.73 g), Chennai local had the maximum fruit diameter (48.55 cm). However, Kashi Khushi gave maximum number of fruits (25.32), fruit yield per plot (10.08 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (12.43 t). From this study kashi khushi is reported as the highest yielder making it suitable for commercial cultivation. Thus, identifying the best-performing genotypes for commercial cultivation for good yield and quality would help improve the farmers' economic status.