Evaluation of Bottle Gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.] Genotypes for Various Growth and Yield Characters

The present investigation “Evaluation of bottle gourd genotypes [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] for various growth and yield characters” was carried out in experimental area of research farm of Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda) during Kharif season 2017-2018. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) comprising of 11 genotype lines with three replications of each treatment. Sowing was done in April, 2017. The observation were recorded on three randomly selected plants with respect to characters viz., number of primary branches per vine, plant height (Vine length), days to first flower, node to first flower, fruit length (cm), fruit girth (cm), fruit rind thickness (mm), fruit flesh thickness (mm), total soluble solids (TSS 0Brix), average, fruit weight (g), number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant (kg). From observations maximum number of branches 11.5 and maximum vine length 745.5 cm was recorded in SEL-6.Minimum days to first flowering (41 days) was recorded in SEL-9. Minimum node to first flowering 7.2, maximum breadth 16 cm was recorded in SEL-1 and maximum fruit length 35.5 cm was in SEL-5. Minimum flesh thickness 68.0 mm and maximum TSS 4.8 °B was recorded in Punjab Bahar (check variety). Maximum average fruit weight 1458.1 g was recorded in SEL-3. Maximum number of fruits per vine 13.9 and yield per vine 14.8 kg were recorded in SEL-8.