Breeding mineral rich high yielding genotypes in monoecious ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula Roxb.) utilizing hermaphrodite inbreds

The present experiment was carried out at IARI, Pusa, New Delhi during 2007-09 to evaluate the combining ability of hermaphrodite lines in combination with monoecious inbreds for the mineral content and yield potential in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula Roxb.). Twenty-one half-diallel derived crosses along with their seven parents were sown in randomized block design with three replications. A large amount of genetic variation was found for fruit yield & mineral content (phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sodium, sulfur, iron, zinc and manganese) in parents, hybrids and parents vs. hybrids; and general combining ability and specific combining ability. Hermaphrodite parents (Satputia Long and Satputia Small) and “monoecious × hermaphrodite” crosses were found to be superior for mineral content along with yield potential in terms of per se performance and combining ability. The crosses possessing higher per se performance, significant desirable specific combining ability estimates, and involving hermaphrodite line as one of the parents would be helpful for accumulating favorable alleles to enhance the mineral content along with productivity in ridge gourd.