Genetic Analysis of Quantitative Traits in Elite Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Hybrids Using a Top-Cross Mating Design

Muhammad Irfan; Muhammad Saad Tahir; Muhammad Talal Ahmad; Muhammad Qasim; Chaman Riaz; Muhammad Ahsan; Jamil Shafi; Mazhar Hussain Ranjha; Sidra Iqbal; Muhammad Tauhid Iqbal; Muhammad Rizwan Shafiq

doi:10.3333/b5xkpm76

Authors

Muhammad Irfan Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Author
Muhammad Saad Tahir Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Author
Muhammad Talal Ahmad Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Author
Muhammad Qasim Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Author
Chaman Riaz Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Author
Muhammad Ahsan Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan Author
Jamil Shafi Department of Plant Pathology, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Author
Mazhar Hussain Ranjha Department of Entomology, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Author
Sidra Iqbal Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Author
Muhammad Tauhid Iqbal Department of Horticulture, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Author
Muhammad Rizwan Shafiq Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Constituent College Depalpur, Okara, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3333/b5xkpm76

Keywords:

Bitter Gourd, Top-Cross Mating Design, Yield-Associated Traits, Combining Ability, Hybrid Evaluation, Heterosis, Momordica Charantia, GCA, Standard Heterosis, Quantitative Genetics

Abstract

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is an economically important cucurbit crop, and the development of superior hybrids with improved yield-associated traits is a major objective of breeding programs. The present study aimed to evaluate hybrid performance and identify superior bitter gourd hybrids using a top-cross mating design. Fourteen diverse female lines were crossed with a common tester to develop fourteen F₁ hybrids. The hybrids, their parents, and a commercial check were evaluated under field conditions using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were recorded for growth, earliness, fruit morphological traits, seed traits, and total yield per plant. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among genotypes for all studied traits, indicating substantial genetic variability. Ability analysis combination revealed that hybrids 19x38, 57x38, and 54x38 showed the most positive GCA effects (GCA = +177.40, +118.74, and +55.40 for plant height, respectively) for various yield-associated traits. Normal heterosis analysis showed that hybrid 19x38 was better than the commercial check by 27.27 percent of total yield per plant, followed by 57x38 (+16.88) and 54x38 (+9.09). Hybrid 19x38 (264.96 g) recorded the greatest single fruit weight, representing an increase of 145.8 percent over the commercial check. The results indicated the contribution of both additive and non-additive gene actions in the inheritance of yield-associated traits. The identified superior hybrids represent promising genetic material for future multi-location testing and potential commercialization aimed at enhancing bitter gourd productivity.