STUDIES ON COMBINING ABILITY IN BOTTLE GOARD

摘要

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria Siceraria (mol) standi.] is a popular cucurbit vegetable in India (5). It is a monocious and highly cross-pollinated and exhibits rich variability in economic traits (6). A rich source ofvitamins, iron and minerals. It is an excellent diet for people having problems since it contains low calories (1). Identification of potential parents based on their combining ability is very essential in heterosis breeding. The analysis of combining ability helps the breeder in selecting suitable parents for hybridization and for determining the nature and magnitude of gene action in the expression of a particular trait the diallel cross analysis has been found as an useful biometrical technique for under standing the nature of quantitatively inherited traits and to ascertain the property of parents by the estimation of general and combining abilities.