Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Yield and Yield Contributing Characters in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Genotypes

Twenty diverse genotypes were evaluated at Horticulture research centre of SVP university of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut during spring season, 2022. The experiment was laid out in Randomized block design with three replications. The analysis of variance revealed significant among all the genotypes for all the characters under study. The high percentage of Genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation for fruit diameter, fruit yield per plot, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per hectare, node number to first male flower, average fruit weight while, moderate were found for node number to first female flower and TSS and lowest in days to germination, number of leaves per plant, vine length, number of primary branches per plant, days to first male flower, days to first female flower and days to first fruit harvest which estimated that high degree of variability in these traits. The highest heritability recorded for fruit diameter 99.45% followed by number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plot, fruit length, node number to first female flower, average fruit weight, number of leaves per plant, node number to first male flower, days to first male flower, fruit yield per hectare, days to first fruit harvest, TSS, days to germination, vine length, days to first female flower and number of primary branches per plant. Genetic advance as percent of mean was highest for fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit yield per plot, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per hectare, node number to first male flower, average fruit weight, node number to first female flower. Which indicate that above characters may be most potential for further improvement.