Estimation of genetic parameters and mean performance for the selection of elite ridge gourd genotypes [Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.]

Introduction

The ridge gourd is known by different names in different languages such as Hindi (Jhimani, Karvitarui, Karvituri, Sankirah and Rantorai) and English (ridge gourd, angled luffa, Chinese okra, dishcloth gourd, ribbed luffa, silk gourd, Sinkwa towel sponge, Sinqua melon and vegetable sponge) (Jyothi et al., 2010) [9] . It is also often referred to as an angled loofah or angled gourd (Muthaiah et al., 2017) [10] . Cucurbitaceae is a family of 8 tribes, 118 genera and 825 species . Ridge gourd belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. It has 2n = 2x = 26 chromosomes. Cucurbits, both major and minor are widely cultivated in India and contribute to about 5.6% of the total vegetable production of the country (Rathore et al., 2017) [15] . Ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.) is an important warm season annual vegetable crop commonly grown for its good taste, flavor, nutritional value and medicinal benefits. It is grown throughout the year in tropical regions, especially in Asian and African countries (Varalakshmi et al., 2016). The name "Luffa" or "Loofah" is derived from the Arabic language and was known as a sponge in ancient Egyptian writings. The Chinese name "Szuka-dishcloth gourd" indicates that it was mentioned in early Chinese literature (Doijode, 2002) [3] . According to Hazra and Som (2005) [4] , the edible portion has around 0.5 g of fiber, 0.5% protein, 0.35% carbohydrate, 37 mg carotene, 5 mg vitamin C, 18 mg calcium, and 0.5 mg iron per 100 g. They have been shown to be a successful natural remedy for jaundice (Panicker et al., 2019) [12] and are beneficial for diabetics due to their low calorie content (Harshitha et al., 2019) [5] . The effective use and improvement of plant genetic resources in crop breeding programs depend on the evaluation and identification of superior genotypes within the current germplasm. (Pidigam et al., 2019; Terfa and Gurnu, 2020) [13,19] . The success of genetic modification in any crop is largely dependent on the degree of genetic diversity and the heritability of economically significant traits. (Saisupriya and others, 2022) [16] . More genetic diversity increases the likelihood of selecting better genotypes. Genetic metrics such as phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) can be used to assess the degree of heterogeneity within a genetic population. Using estimations of genetic attributes like heritability and genetic progress, plant breeders select superior genotypes from a range of genetic populations. (Harshitha et al., 2025; Poornima et al., 2023) [6,11] . In order to harness this diversity for crop improvement, a field study was carried out on ridge gourd to assess genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advancement related to yield and associated attributes.

Materials and Methods

During the Zaid season of 2025, the study was carried out at the vegetable science main experimental station of the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Kumarganj, Ayodhya. 32 ridge gourd genotypes that were gathered from different sources made up the experimental material; Table 1 provides a complete description of these genotypes. Using a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications, seeds were directly sowed in the field with a planting distance of 3 × 0.5 meters. In addition to the appropriate amount of fertilizer, 25 tonnes of farmyard manure were applied per hectare. During the Zaid season of 2025, the study was carried out at the vegetable science main experimental station of the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Kumarganj, Ayodhya. 32 ridge gourd genotypes that were gathered from different sources made up the experimental material; Table 1 provides a complete description of these genotypes. Using a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications, seeds were directly sowed in the field with a planting distance of 3 × 0.5 meters. In addition to the appropriate amount of fertilizer, 25 tonnes of farmyard manure were applied per hectare. Genotypes that produce female flowers at lower nodes are crucial because they often generate more fruits per plant and begin fruit production earlier in their growth cycle. Conversely, genotypes with longer vegetative periods are usually those that produce female flowers at higher nodes. This variety allows breeders to select parental lines to produce cultivars with specific plant architecture and maturity timeframes.

Mean Performance of Genotypes for Growth Parameters

Significant variation was found among the genotypes examined for every characteristic in this study, according to analysis of variance. Ridge gourd genotypes differed significantly in terms of vine length, internodal length, and primary branches per plant (Table 2). The largest vine length (4.53 m) was displayed by VRRG-83, which was comparable to Pusa Nasdar (3.93 m). The shortest vine length (3.36 m) was shown by NDRG-24-1. Significant variation was found among the genotypes examined for every characteristic in this study, according to analysis of variance. Ridge gourd genotypes differed significantly in terms of vine length, internodal length, and primary branches per plant (Table 2). The largest vine length (4.53 m) was displayed by VRRG-83, which was comparable to Pusa Nasdar (3.93 m). The shortest vine length (3.36 m) was shown by NDRG-24-1. This diversity is critical to crop improvement because it provides the basis for effective selection and breeding. Plant vigor, as evidenced by traits like vine length, is necessary for the formation of a robust canopy that facilitates photosynthesis and subsequent fruit production. The number of primary branches per plant is another important feature that directly influences the amount of nodes accessible for fruit formation and blooming, hence influencing overall yield. Crossing genotypes to combine desired features could be part of a planned breeding scheme. For example, combining a long-fruited, high-TSS genotype with a high-yielding genotype could result in the creation of better hybrids that combine high yield with desired market and quality traits.

Mean Performance of Ridge Gourd Genotypes for Yield and Yield-Attributing Traits

Table 2 displays yield and yield-contributing trait observations. VRRG-41 had the fewest fruits per plant (10.50), while Kashi Khushi had the most fruits per vine (28.30). The genotype VRRG-83 had the highest average fruit weight (217 g), while Kashi Khushi had the lowest average fruit weight (43 g). VRRG-83 had the highest fruit output per plant (3.24 kg), while VRRG-41 had the lowest yield per vine (1.16). Similarly, VRRG-83 had the highest fruit output per hectare (196.27 q/ha). On the other hand, VRRG-41 had the lowest yield per hectare (70.45q/ha). In order to create high-yielding cultivars, the genotypes of ridge gourds differed greatly in terms of yield and yieldrelated traits. The two primary parameters that combine to create yield, a complex quantitative characteristic, are the number of fruits per vine and the average fruit weight. This study successfully demonstrated the genetic variability available for these components and identified genotypes with superior performance. The identification of superior genotypes for specific features will provide a clear path for future breeding efforts. A deliberate hybridization strategy could involve crossing genotypes with complementary features. For instance, crossing a genotype such as Kashi Khushi (high fruit number) with VRRG-83 (high average fruit weight) may break the negative correlation between these traits and produce transgressive segregants with both big fruit counts and desired weight.

Genotypic and Phenotypic Coefficients of Variation

The phenotypic coefficient of variation captures the total observable diversity of a feature, accounting for both genetic and environmental variables. The entire spectrum of phenotypic diversity is captured by this statistic, which may vary based on weather, soil type, and agricultural methods. A higher PCV means that external factors have a greater influence on how the traits appear. However, the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) is used to separate the heritable component of this variance. By excluding environmental influences, the GCV illustrates the extent to which individual variances are solely due to genetic factors. This distinction shows the portion of diversity that can be passed on to future generations, making it useful for choosing superior genotypes and forecasting the possible success of breeding efforts. Because it separates genetic contributions, GCV is frequently smaller than PCV. Based on the degree of variance, GCV and PCV were divided into three categories: low (less than 10%), moderate (10 to 20%), and high (more than 20%). Table 3 displays the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for different traits. PCV values were consistently higher than GCV values for every characteristic evaluated, suggesting that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to phenotypic variance. With GCV = 37.25 percent and PCV = 37.53 percent, primary branches per plant showed the most diversity. Average fruit weight came in second with GCV = 27.28 percent and PCV = 27.91 percent, respectively. On the other hand, with GCV and PCV of 5.06 percent and 10.12 percent, respectively, vine length exhibited the least variability. Features like fruit yield (GCV = 21.01%, PCV = 23.05%), fruit length (GCV = 26.43%, PCV = 26.82%), number of fruits per plant (GCV = 24.45%, PCV = 25.31%), fruit yield per plant (GCV = 20.97%, PCV = 22.80%), and first pistillate node number flower appearance (GCV = 20.00%, PCV = 21.46%) demonstrated high genetic variability. High variability has been reported by earlier researchers in ridge gourd gourd (Jha et al., 2026) [7] and in bitter gourd (Talukder et al., 2018) [18] . Moderate variation was observed for internodal length (GCV: 17.33%, PCV: 19.22%), fruit diameter (GCV: 18.18%, PCV: 20.49%), dry matter percentage (GCV: 15.16%, PCV: 15.58%), ascorbic acid content (GCV: 16.04%, PCV: 16.23%) and TSS content (GCV: 14.18%, PCV: 14.38%). Low variability was recorded for days to first fruit harvest (GCV: 5.28%, PCV: 6.76%), days to first staminate flower appearance (GCV: 6.63%, PCV: 9.33%) and days to first pistillate flower appearance (GCV: 6.36%, PCV: 8.61%). By examining the Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) and Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV), a quantitative evaluation of the genetic and observable variability present in the ridge gourd germplasm may be produced. Since this suggests that the overall phenotypic expression is a combination of hereditary and environmental factors, it is expected that PCV values were consistently higher than GCV values for every attribute. However, the small difference between the PCV and GCV values for most traits indicates that environmental effect was negligible and that genetic variables account for most of the observed variance.

Heritability and Genetic Advance

The ratio of genetic variance to phenotypic variance is commonly used to quantify heritability, a measure of the effectiveness of selection. Finding superior genotypes using a range of genetic pools is one of its advantages. The selection of superior genotypes based on their quantitative trait markers was made easier by high heritability scales. A high heritability estimate suggests the presence of many fixed additive genes, which enables target selection to improve features. The mix of advances and heredity is necessary for effective selection. to predict the outcomes of finding genotypes that perform well. Three levels of heritability were identified: high (above 60%), moderate (between 30 and 60%), and low (below 30%). Similarly, genetic advancement is divided into three groups: low (less than 10%), moderate (10 to 20%), and high (more than 20%). The heritability and genetic advance estimates for the traits under study are shown in The degree to which a trait is genetically influenced and the possibility of improvement through selection are revealed by the examination of heritability and genetic advancement, which is essential information for developing a successful breeding plan. A noteworthy conclusion is that all of the variables under study had high heritability, indicating that genetic factors rather than environmental influences are primarily responsible for the observed phenotypic variance.

The selection process is more dependable and predictable because of this high level of genetic control. The degree to which a trait is genetically influenced and the possibility of improvement through selection are revealed by the examination of heritability and genetic advancement, which is essential information for developing a successful breeding plan. The fact that all of the variables under investigation showed high heritability is a remarkable finding, suggesting that the observed phenotypic variance is mostly caused by genetic factors rather than environmental impacts. This great degree of genetic control makes the selection process more reliable and predictable. Particularly potent is the combination of high heritability and high genetic progress as a percentage of mean. The majority of economically significant traits exhibit this pairing, which suggests that additive gene action predominates in their inheritance.

Because an individual's phenotype is a reliable measure of its breeding value, traits controlled by additive gene effects are extremely responsive to selection. As a result, straightforward selection techniques like progeny selection or mass selection are anticipated to be very. These outcomes are consistent with the ridge gourd findings of Thulasiram et al. (2022) [20] and ChinthalaPudi et al. (2021) [2] . Numerous significant characteristics, such as sex ratio, fruit length, number of seeds per fruit, number of fruits per vine, yield per vine, and yield per hectare, showed significant variation, according to the study. Fruit set, fruit diameter, average fruit weight, internodal length, and the node of the first male and female flower appearance all showed moderate variability. Vine length, sex ratio, number of fruits per vine, fruit length, fruit diameter, average fruit weight, yield per plant, and yield per hectare are traits that show both high heritability and high genetic advancement. High heritability and notable genetic advancement suggest that these characteristics are primarily

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