Potential of Gynoecious Line in Generating Superior Heterotic Hybrids in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Abstract

An experiment was designed to fi nd out the extent of heterosis in bitter gourd using gynoecious line, KAUMCGy-
101 and three monoecious lines viz., Preethi, Priyanka, and MC133. Hybrids were generated by both
direct and reciprocal crosses. All the hybrids exhibited earliness in terms of days to fi rst female fl ower opening,
node bearing fi rst female fl ower, and days to fi rst harvest. The hybrid KAU-MCGy-101 × Priyanka exhibited
signifi cantly higher heterosis with regard to heterobeltiosis (-16.03 %) and standard heterosis (-18.63 %) for
days to fi rst female fl ower opening. All the six hybrids manifested signifi cant standard heterosis for sex ratio in
the desirable negative direction, ranged from 44.25 to -55.52 %. The highest yield was recorded in the hybrid
KAU-MCGy-101 × Priyanka (22.88 t/ha) and was followed by KAU-MCGy-101 × Preethi (20.42 t/ha) and
KAU-MCGy-101 × MC 133 (20.05 t/ha). Heterobeltiosis for yield (t/ha) varied from 14.72 to 57.85 % and
the standard heterosis ranged between 37.59 to 89.31 %.The best performing hybrids were KAU-MCGy-101 ×
Preethi, KAU-MCGy-101 × Priyanka, and KAU-MCGy-101 × MC 133 with respect toearliness, number of fruits
per plant, and yield. Thus, the superiority of hybrids having gynoecious line as a maternal parent is prominent
in the present study.