HETEROSIS TO THE F1 IN BITTER GOURD Momordica Charantia BY FULL DIALLEL CROSSES AND IT IS CONTENT OF MOMRDIN

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in the plastic houses, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad during the spring season 2018. Six inbred lines of bitter gourd were entered into full diallel crosses, and planted during 2018-2019 season (six inbred lines symbolized as 1,2,3,4,5,6 +15 diallel hybrid+15 reciprocal hybrid+control hybrid) according to randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates, each experimental unit occupied 6 plants. Results revealed a significant difference among the genotypes in most of the studied traits. The diallel hybrid (1×4) gave the highest values in the dry weight and the number of flowers and fruits (153.60 gm, 36.83 flowers; plant ^-1, 23.167 fruits; plant^-1). The reciprocal hybrid (5×4) gave the highest values in the number of leaves, dry weight, number of flowers and fruits and the percentage of potassium) 90.50 leaf. Plant-1, 167.700 gm, 34.33 flowers. Plant^-1, 29.167 fruits, 3.830%). The diallel hybrid (4×6) and the reciprocal hybrid (6×2) gave the highest values in the concentration of Momordin (577.6 and 394.1 mg. 100 g^-1). Most of the hybrids showed the highest concentration of homogenous substance, and it showed significant hybrid abundance and standard hybrid strength in the desired direction in most of the study indicators. Most of the study indicators were affected by the additive gene action, which gives an indication to the plant breeder of the possibility of following crossbreeding in improving these indicators.