Heterosis Breeding in Bitter Gourd: F1 Hybrid Development Methodology

Investigation was carried out in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) to develop potential F1 hybrids with high yield and quality parameters. In a full diallel crossing involving ten parents, a total of ninety F1 crosses were obtained and evaluated with their parents in two seasons for various quantitative and qualitative characters. The analysis of variance for the traits studied indicated highly significant differences existed among the parents and hybrids. Per se performance of the parents revealed as the parent Preethi is the superior for yield per plant and CO-1 for quality parameters. Heterotic vigour over standard parent was shown by majority of the hybrid for number of female flowers, fruit weight, sex ratio, fruit girth, fruit yield, fruit number and earliness. Considering the per se performance, sca and the standard heterosis, the hybrid Preethi x MC-30 had registered favourable values for important characters like earliness, fruit number, fruit yield and quality parameters. Other hybrids with higher yield and quality parameters were KR x USL, MC-105 x MC-10 and Priyanka x CO-1. To release a potential hybrid selected hybrids to be tested under different locations.