Genetic Divergence in Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Mol. Standl.)

Abstract

Genetic divergence among 42 bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Mol. Standl.) accessions was estimated using D² and canonical analysis. The accessions were grouped into five clusters. No clear relationship was observed between geographic origin and genetic diversity. The maximum intercluster distance was between cluster I and cluster II, and the minimum was between cluster III and cluster IV. Primary branches per plant, fruit length and weight, number of fruits and yield per plant contributed maximum to the total genetic divergence. The results obtained by D² analysis were also confirmed by canonical analysis. The accessions included in the most divergent clusters I and II, are promising parents for a hybridization programme for obtaining high heterosis and thus better segregants in bottle gourd.