Evaluation of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) hybrids for yield-contributing traits

AbstractThe study was undertaken to find the performance of 28 hybrids of sponge gourd Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. through diallel mating design excluding reciprocals at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan. Observations were recorded on days to initiation of first female flower, days to 50% flowering, number of nodes at which first female flowers appear, number of primary branches/vine, vine length at final harvesting, days to first fruit harvesting, fruit size, average fruit weight, average fruit yield (g/plant), average fruit yield (kg/plot), total fruit yield (q/ha.). Among the hybrids, ‘VRSG-17-27 × Pusa Chikni’, ‘VRSG-17-27 × Kashi Shreya’, ‘Kashi Shreya × PSG-40’, ‘Kashi Shreya × Pusa Chikni’, ‘VRSG-17-4 × VRSG-17-27 and ‘VRSG-17-27 × PSG-40’excelled n number of nodes at which first female flower appears, days to initiation of first female flowers appear and fruit yield. Thus, first generation hybrids can be well-utilized for exploiting hybrid vigor to achieve higher yield with improved quality.