Abstract

Five female clones of Teasle gourd were evaluated to estimate the variability, heritability and genetic advance in randomized complete block design with four replications. Higher phenotypic coefficients of variation were observed for all the characters except fruit length at marketable stage. Total sugar in mesocarp, total sugar in exocarp, reducing sugar in mesocarp, ascorbic acid in exocarp, ascorbic acid in mesocarp, total soluble solids (TSS) in exocarp, b-carotene in exocarp, acidity in mesocarp, b-carotene in mesocarp, TSS in mesocarp, acidity in exocarp showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance indicating that these traits were under the additive gene control and simple selection can be used for further improvement in these traits Teasle gourd.

Key words: Teasle gourd, clones, variability, heritability, genetic advance.