Standard Heterosis for Fruit Yield and Its Components in Bottlegourd [Lagenaria Siceraria (Mol.) Standle

Manifestation of heterosis for fruit yield and its components was investigted in 28 F1 hybrids of bottle gourd obtained from a diallel set involving eight parents (excluding reciprocals). The evaluation was done during summer and kharif seasons of 2002. Appreciable heterosis were recorded over standard check (Pusa Naveen) for 14 horticultural traits over both the seasons. For fruit yield the F1s PBOG-61×Pusa Naveen, PBOG-61×PBOG88, PBOG-81×PBOG-88, PBOG-88×Pusa Naveen and PBOG-40×Pusa Naveen proved the best and manifested 51.3, 43.8, 39.5, 36.6 and 36.2 per cent heterosis, respectively over the check Pusa Naveen. The high fruit yield recorded in these five Fl hybrids has been directly attributed to increased number of fruits per plant. The Fl hybrid PBOG-61xPusa Naveen which produced long type fruits was identified as the best for number of fruits and fruit yield.