Gene Action Study for Fruit Yield and Its Components in Bottle Gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] Through Genration Mean Analysis

In the present investigation, nature and magnitude of gene action was analyzed in six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) of two crosses [Pusa Naveen × DBG 6 (cross 1) and DBG 5 × DBG 6 (cross 2)] of bottle gourd. On the basis of individual scaling tests, additivedominance model was adequate in cross Pusa Naveen x DBG 6 for number of node bearing first female flower; in cross for number of fruits per plant; and in cross for fruit yield per plant. For the remaining character-cross combinations, additivedominance model was found inadequate for description of variation in generation means. The (h) and (l) components had opposite sign in all the crosses for all characters except in DBG 5 x DBG 6 and for . Thus, these cross presuming largely complementary type of epistasis. Remaining crosses for all traits presuming largely duplicate type of epistasis. It would be concluded from the present study that fruit yield per plant and its component traits studied in two bottle gourd crosses were governed by additive, dominance, digenic, epistasis and digenic epistasis gene effects along with duplicate type of gene action. When additive as well as non-additive gene effects are involved, a breeding scheme efficient in exploiting both types of gene effects should be employed. Bi-parental mating could be followed which would facilitate exploitation of both types of gene effects simultaneously for genetic improvement of fruit yield and its component traits in bottle gourd.