Heterosis in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) for yield and yield related traits

The experiment was conducted to study the heterosis in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) at Sabour Farm, Department of Horticulture (Vegetable and Floriculture), Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur during summer season, 2017. The investigation comprised of seven diverse parents viz., Thailong(P1), Konkon Tara (P2), Pusa Aushadhi (P3), Pirpaiti Local (P4), Karela Safed (P5), Gangajali Small (P6), and Pusa Rasdar (P7) and a for all characters indicated presence of genetic variability. The cross combinations Gangajali Small × Pusa diallel diallel mating design was used to evaluate 21 hybrids to increase yield by identification of a unique cross combination with desirable heterosis in bitter gourd. Significant differences Rasdar, Karela Safed × Pusa Rasdar and Konkon Tara × Gangajali Small showed highest heterosis with 45.65%, 39.13% and 35.65% respectively for fruit yield per plant over check parent Pusa Rasdar. Based on per se performance and high magnitude of heterosis for yield and yield contributing characters, the hybrids Gangajali Small × Pusa Rasdar (P6 × P7), Karela Safed × Pusa Rasdar (P5 × P7) and Konkon Tara × Gangajali Small (P2 × P6) were identified as ideal cross combinations and can be used for development of improved commercial lines. Conclusively, it has been suggested that heterosis breeding could be useful breeding approach for developing of early and high yielding genotypes from potent breeding material suggested in the present experiment and further amelioration of fruit yield and quality can be achieved in bittergourd.