Genetic diversity, variability and correlation studies in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.).

Abstract

Thirty one genotypes of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) were evaluated for 10 quantitative traits during August 2016. Significant differences among bitter gourd genotypes indicated the presence of wide variation for all the traits. All the 10 traits showed significant and positive association with yield. Genotype IIHR-147-4 took the shortest time to first female flower appearance (26.57 days after planting). A close proximity in the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variability was observed for peduncle length, fruit length, fruit girth, number of fruits, fruit weight and fruit yield indicating little influence of environment for the expression of these traits. High heritability was recorded for peduncle length, fruit length, fruit girth and fruit weight. Number of fruits followed by fruit weight, fruit length and fruit girth exhibited maximum positive direct effect on fruit yield. Principal component analysis revealed that first three principal components (PC1, PC2 and PC3) accounted for 72.28% of the total variation with the proportionate contribution values of 40.83, 17.43, and 14.01 respectively. The genotypes were grouped in to four different clusters based on the genetic distance. The divergence value for cluster analysis indicated that the genotypes from clusters I and II had the highest inter-cluster distance and were expected to provide high heterosis if crossed and to show wide variability in genetic architecture