Evaluation of Genetic Variability for Yield Improvement in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Genotypes

The degree of genetic variability found in any particular germplasm is a major factor in determining the best breeding program or technique to be used. Exploitation of the natural genetic variability present within a crop species can aid in meeting the rising demand through the identification and modification of the adaptive and productive genes present. Breeders thus identify natural genetic variability as the key to crop improvement. The present investigation was undertaken at the Experimental field of Urban Technological Park Habbak, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir during kharif-2022. To investigate several aspects of genetic variability, including mean, range, PV, GV, PCV, GCV, heritability, genetic gain, and genetic advance among the genotypes, the experiment was set up in a Randomized Block Design with three replications and a plant spacing of 2×1 m for thirty genotypes. For every character under study, it was discovered that the estimates of the phenotypic coefficient of variation were marginally greater than the respective genotypic coefficient of variation, indicating a possible involvement of environment in the expression of these traits. Fruit yield hectare-1 (q) exhibited the largest genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation (39.788 and 38.970). For yield hectare-1 (q), high heritability and high genetic gain (0.95 and 78.62) were observed. This suggests that additive gene effects are most likely the cause of the heritability and increases the likelihood that this characteristic would be fixed by selection. For every characteristic, the estimates of broad sense heritability were high. All these factors help in selection of better parents for the development of commercial varieties/hybrids. Considering the potential nutritional and economic benefits of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), there is an imperative necessity to isolate such breeding lines having desirable traits, high yield potential along with better quality.