Combining Ability Studies for Yield and Plant Characters in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

The present investigation was carried out involving thirty hybrids which were derived by crossing ten lines with three testers. These hybrids were evaluated along with their parents in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The recorded data was subjected to Line × Tester analysis. The analysis of variance for combining ability revealed that the mean sum of squares due to parents and hybrids were highly significant for almost all the characters except for days required to 50% pistillate flowering, vine length, number of primary branches per plant and internodal length. The lines IC-085612, OBGCS-4 and Katehi were found to be good general combiners for earliness characters as well as for fruit yield. Among the hybrids, the crosses OBGCS-4 × Preethi, IC-085612 × Katheri, Katehi × Meghna and Jaunpuri Green × Meghna exhibited high SCA effects for earliness in flowering with first female at lowest node. These hybrids should be further evaluated and can be exploited for commercial cultivation.