Exploitation of Hybrid Vigour in Cucurbits

The hybrid performance in respect of yield in 91 crosses obtained from 25 parents in bottle gourd was studied. Similarly studies were made in 57 combinations obtained from 16 parents in ridge gourd. In smooth gourd and bitter gourd 16 combinations and six combinations obtained from 12 and 13 parents respectively were observed. It is found that only one cross combination in bottle gourd (Kalyanpur-9 x Malkapur-26) and one in ridge gourd (Baroda-24 x Mulshi-33) and one in smooth gourd (Indore-6 x M.P-7) showed heterosis of considerable magnitude worth of practical exploitation. The probable reasons for manifestation of heterosis in these combinations are discussed.