COMPARATIVE GERMPLASM EVALUATION OF BOTTLE GOURD (LAGENARIA SICERARIA L.) HYBRIDS AND VARIETIES FOR YIELD AND ADAPTIVE TRAITS UNDER FAISALABAD AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Abstract

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is an important cucurbitaceous vegetable crop widely cultivated in Pakistan for its nutritional, culinary, and economic value. Continuous introduction and evaluation of improved hybrids and varieties is essential to identify genotypes with superior germination, fruiting, and yield potential suited to local agro-climatic conditions. The present study was conducted in an open field at the Vegetable Research Institute (VRI), Faisalabad during Kharif 2025 to evaluate the adaptability and comparative yield performance of fourteen bottle gourd hybrids/varieties, including a local check (Faisalabad Round), received from different seed companies. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, a plot size of 5 × 3 m2, and a plant to plant spacing of 50 cm. Seed was sown on March 11, 2025, poor initial germination in some entries necessitated re sowing after seven days to ensure a uniform stand. Fruit picking commenced on May 5, 2025 and continued through August 12, 2025, comprising a total of nineteen pickings. Data on germination percentage, number of fruits per plant, and fruit yield (t/ha) were recorded and analyzed statistically. Five hybrids produced significantly higher yield than the check. The hybrid HBO-246 F1 gave the highest yield (35 t/ha) with 85% germination and 5 fruits per plant, followed by Ujala F1 (34 t/ha) and VIP-66 F1 (32 t/ha), all of which markedly outyielded the local check, Faisalabad Round (15 t/ha). The lowest yield was recorded in ICS-BO-1251 (10 t/ha).