Genetic variability and association analysis in Luffa sp.

Abstract

Twenty four accessions of Luffa hermaphrodita were evaluated in randomized complete block desin for 12 economic characters to study genetic variability of traits and contribution towards yield and its association with each other. The analysis of variance revealed considerable genetic diversity among the accessions for aggregate effect of all the characters. Of the 24 genotypes, SP-59 recorded highest edible fruit yield/hectare (107.90 q) while DR/Y-1 expressed earliness with respect to days to first hermaphrodite flower anthesis (40.6) and maximum value for number of fruits per plant (185.30). High heritability for number of seeds per fruit, seed weight and edible fruit yield per hectare suggests that characters phenotypic value could provide fair and reliable measure of good genotype. High heritability and high genetic advance for number of seeds per fruit and edible fruit yield per hectare indicated the presence of high amount of fixable variation among genotypes for these traits, which provides ample scope for varietal improvement through hybridization and selection in Luffa hermaphrodita.