Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Oleaginous Gourd Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to estimate phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean in F2 generation for seeds yield of Lagenaria siceraria and its components in three crosses NI283 x NI215, NI354 x NI215 and NI106 x NI215. For each family, involving six diverses parents on two locations, Abidjan and Manfla. The experimental layout was a randomized completed block design with three replications. The phenotypic coefficients of variation are higher than those of genotypic coefficients of variation in Abidjan and Manfla. That indicated the influence of environment in the expression of all characters. For fruit weight and number of seeds, average values recorded for genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation are all high in crosses made in two localities. High heritability with high genetic advance as percent of mean observed in majority of crosses indicates high degree of additive genes effect implies less control by environment on these traits. For 100-seed weigh high to moderate range of heritability in conjunction with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for this trait which indicates the preponderance of additive gene action governing the inheritance of this character and offers the best possibility of improvement through simple selection procedure. For seeds yield or seed weight, the values of the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation are moderate and low respectively in the two localities. Moderate heritability estimate coupled with moderate genetic advance as percentage mean indicated the role of non additive genetic variance in their expression. A significant difference was recorded for all traits, indicating the presence of high degree of variability in the genotypes studied that suggesting the possibility of improving yield through selection for these traits.