Evaluation of Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) F1 hybrids for various commercial traits

The present study was conducted during the Kharif-2023 season to evaluate newly developed F₁ hybrids of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). A full diallel mating design (10 × 10) involving 10 parental lines was employed, resulting in 90 F₁ hybrids. Of these, 40 selected F₁ hybrids were evaluated for qualitative and quantitative traits under field conditions in a Randomized Block Design (RBD). Significant variability was observed among the hybrids for all studied traits. Among vegetative parameters, the maximum vine length was recorded in BG111 (5.81 m), followed by BG14 (5.54 m). Shortest internodal length, indicative of compact growth, was observed in BG710 (6.18 cm) and BG103 (6.56 cm). Earliness in flowering was exhibited by BG15 (36.66 days), followed by BG610 (37.12 days) and BG51 (37.28 days). With respect to fruit characteristics, BG15 recorded the highest fruit length (29.30 cm) and fruit weight (97.84 g) closely followed by BG21 (97.80 g), while the maximum fruit diameter (4.16 cm) was observed in BG42. The shortest fruit length (8.31 cm) was noted in BG43. The highest number of fruits per vine was recorded in BG36 (40.64), followed by BG53 (36.49). Qualitative traits such as fruit colour, shape, tubercles and ridges pattern also exhibited noticeable variation among hybrids, facilitating their distinction. Overall, the study revealed substantial genetic variability among the F₁ hybrids, indicating their potential for further exploitation in breeding programs, including combining ability analysis, heterosis studies, and selection for superior yield and disease resistance.