Preliminary Studies on Heterosis in Snakegourd (Triconsanthes cucumerina)

The analysis of variance showed significant difference among the parents and hybrids of snakegourd for most of the characters except days to first female flower, days to first fruit setting and node number of first fruit setting. The hybrid SG-18 x SG-01 produced the highest number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant followed by SG-04 x SG-26. The hybrid SG-04 x SG-26 took minimum 81-83 days to produce female flower. Both positive and negative mid parent and better parent heterosis was obtained for different characters of hybrids of which few hybrids showed desirable and significant values. The highest mid parent heterosis in negative direction (-9.66%) was found for days to first male flower in hybrid SG-06 x SG-18 and for days to first female flower opening in hybrid SG-04 x SG-26 (-9.30%). The hybrids SG-01 x SG-18, SG-04 x SG-26, SG-06 x SG-18, SG-06 x SG-25, SG-18 x SG-01 and SG-18 x SG-25 showed significant desirable mid parent heterosis for number of fruits per plant, and SG-04 x SG-26, SG-06 x SG-18, SG-06 x SG-25, and SG-18 x SG-25 showed better parent heterosis. Four hybrids (SG-04 x SG-26, SG-06 x SG-18, SG-06 x SG-25 and SG-18 x SG-25) exhibited significant and desirable level of both mid and better parent heterosis for number of fruits per plant. The hybrids SG-04 x SG-26, SG-06 x SG-18, SG-06 x SG-25 and SG-18 x SG-25 could be identified as promising combination for commercial cultivation. Further investigation should be carried out to confirm the heterosis exhibited by the hybrids.