Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(7): 4069-4077 4069 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.607.422 Studies on Heterosis in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) L. Bhatt 1* , S.P. Singh 1 , A.K. Soni 1 and M.K. Samota 2 1 Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner-303329, India 2 ICAR- IARI, New Delhi-110 012, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is an important nutritive and commercial cucurbits belonging to the Cucurbitaceae. In terms of nutritive value, bitter gourd ranks first among cucurbits due to high value of vitamins and minerals. It is highly cross pollinated due to monoecious nature and has high degree of heterozygosity. Due to efforts of vegetable breeders, improved varieties and hybrids have been developed. Crops improvement involves strategies for enhancing yield potentiality and quality components. In bitter gourd full exploitation of heterosis through development of hybrids has not been successfully commercialized due to one or the other reason. Variability found in shape, size and colour of fruits in most conspicuous which offers tremendous scope for heterosis breeding for yield enhancement. Crossing nature and heterosis in cross pollinated crops International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 7 (2017) pp. 4069-4077 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com The present investigation entitled studies on heterosis for yield and its components of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) using 9 parents and 1 standard variety and their 36 crosses for 11 quantitive traits was carried out in summer and rainy seasons of 2015. The analysis of variance for experimental design revealed the existence of adequate genetic variability in experimental material for all traits under study. Variance due to parents Vs F1’s were significant for all characters, except days taken to opening of first female flower,days taken to first fruit set, fruit weight and total fruits yield per vine, thereby indicating the presence of overall average heterosis for all characters. Heterosis was worked –out over better parent and standard check Pusa hybrid-1. The highest desirable heterobeltiosis for yield its component characters was observed in order of male: female ratio (37.36 %), number fruit per vine (20.00%), total fruits yield per vine (9.68 %) and ascorbic acid (2.50%). The standard heterosis (over best check Pusahybrid-1 was observed in order of days taken to opening of first female flower(-5.45), days taken to first fruits set (-5.45), male: female ratio (107.47%), number of fruits per vine (50.00%), fruit length (27.59%), fruit weight (3.33), fruit diameter (4.35%), total fruits yield per vine (21.43%). Panipat Local x Phule Green, Phule Green x Pusa Do Mausami and Punjab-14 x Pusa Do Mausami. Panipat Local x Phule Green was superior in respect of days taken to opening first female flower, vine length, days to first fruit harvest, fruit length. Phule Green x Pusa Do Mausami was took fruit length, fruit weight, fruit diameter and total fruits yield per vine. Punjab-14 x Pusa Do Mausami was better with regard to superior for number of node at which first female flower appeared, number of fruits per vine and days to first fruit harvest. Keywords Bitter gourd, Momordica charantia, Heterosis and Harvest Accepted: 29 June 2017 Available Online: 10 July 2017 Article Info