Studies on hetrosis in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Seven parental lines and their 21 F1 hybrids of bitter gourd obtained from half diallel were studied to investigate the extent of heterosis for yield and its contributing traits. The parents BG-5, BG-23 and BG-11 were observed to be three top performing parents for fruit yield per plant. The negative heterosis which is desirable for days to appearance of first male and female flower, number of node bearing first male and female flower and days to first fruit harvest were common in most of the crosses. Appreciable heterosis was recorded over better and standard parents for all the traits studied. In order of merit F1 hybrids BG-11 x BG-25, BG-11 x BG-29 and BG-5 x BG-25 were recorded to be three best performing F1 hybrids for fruit yield per plant. The higher yield recorded by these hybrids could be due to increased number of fruit, earliness and lowest number of node bearing first female flower. The best performing F1 hybrid BG-11 x BG-25 which recorded 100% higher yield over standard parent (Pusa Do-Mausami) may be exploited for commercial cultivation.