Evaluation of Parental Lines and Hybrids through Combining Ability Studies in Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina L.)

Snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina) is an annual, day neutral climbing type herbaceous vegetable crop belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family with chromosome number of 2n = 2x = 22. Developing high yielding and well-adapted snake gourd cultivars is essential to meet the growing demands of a rising global population. This study was carried out using a line × tester mating design to assess the combining ability and genetic potential of diverse snake gourd lines for key morphological characteristics. The objective was to identify superior parental combinations and promising F1 hybrids with high specific combining ability (SCA) for further breeding programmes. A set of seven diverse snake gourd lines were crossed with two well-adapted testers. The resulting F1 hybrids, along with their parental lines, were evaluated for morphological traits, including growth parameters, flowering parameters, fruit parameters and biochemical parameters. Data analysis revealed significant differences among genotypes for all evaluated traits. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were estimated and promising lines and hybrid combinations exhibiting high GCA and SCA for desirable traits were identified. The results of this study provide useful information on the genetic control of morphological traits in snake gourd and confirm that the line × tester analysis is an effective tool for identifying superior parental combinations for breeding programmes aimed at developing improved snake gourd cultivars with enhanced agronomic performance.