Heterosis in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula Roxb.) using hermaphrodite lines

Seven parental lines, including two hermaphrodite lines and 28 F-1 hybrids of ridge gourd obtained from half diallel mating, were studied to investigate the extent of heterosis for yield and its contributing characters during spring summer and rainy season for two years. The three top performing parents, viz. P-1 (DRG-2), P-2 (Pusa Nasdar) and P-7 (Satputia Small) were observed for total yield per plant. Appreciable heterosis was observed over better parents and top parent for all the characters studied. In order of merit, P-1 x P-7, P-1 X P-6 and P-2 x P-7 were found to be best heterotic combinations as they exhibited significant heterosis percentage for yield per plant over the top parent. The high yielding F1 hybrids P-1 x P-7 (DRG-2 x Satputia Small), P-1 X P-6 (DRG-2 x Satputia Long) and P-2 X P-7 (Pusa Nasdar x Satputia Small) were early in maturity, had high number of fruits per plant and showed 91.36, 84.84 and 73.11% heterosis for yield over top parent and may be recommended for commercial exploitation.