Genetic variability and correlation coefficient for horticultural traits in bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)

Abstract

Bottle gourd belong to family Cucurbitaceae, which primarily comprised species consumed as food worldwide. Bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] is important cucurbitaceous vegetable crop having chromosome number 2n=2x=22. is cultivated, both as rainy and summer season vegetable. The tender fruits of bottle gourd can be used as a culinary vegetable, Kofta or for making sweets viz. Halva, Kheer, Petha, Burfi and pickles. A decoction made from the leaf is a very good medicine for jaundice. Bottle gourd production is 2.68 MT from an area of 0.157 m/ha with 17.08 metric tons productivity and total vegetable production 184.39 MT from an area 10.259 MT with 17.97 metric tonnes productivity during 2017-2018 in India (NHB data 2018).