Combining Ability and Heterosis for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Bitter Gourd

A study was conducted during Rabi 2022 and Kharif 2023 at the Department of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore to develop 49 F1 hybrids through the utilization of line × tester mating design. The parents and developed hybrids along with standard check (Pusa Hybrid 6) were evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design) and Alpha lattice design, respectively, for yield and yield attributing traits. The combining ability analysis revealed that among 14 parents, Pusa Rasdar, Pusa Do Mausami, Pusa Vishesh, Hirkani and Pant Karela 4 were identified as best general combiners for most of the studied yield and yield attributing traits. The estimates of heterosis revealed that the hybrids, Konkan Karali × Pant Karela 4 (45.45%), Konkan Tara × Pusa Do Mausami (23.48%), Pusa Rasdar × Phule Green Gold (126.87%) and Hirkani × Pusa Do Mausami (46.20%) were top performing hybrids over standard check for fruit length, diameter, average weight and number of fruits per vine, respectively. Similarly, Pusa Rasdar × Pant Karela 4 (127.06%), Priya × Pusa Do Mausami (101.05%), Punjab 14 × Pusa Do Mausami (100.53%) and Pusa Rasdar × Pant Karela 3 (97.61%) were top performing hybrids over standard check for yield per vine. These hybrids also recorded highest significant sca effects hence, considered as good specific combiners.