An experiment was conducted to elucidate the nature of gene action, combining ability, and the magnitude of heterosis for yield and yield-contributing traits in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). The study involved five parental lines and their ten F? hybrids generated through a half-diallel mating design and was carried out during kharif 2012 and rabi 2012–13 at the Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. Analysis of variance revealed that specific combining ability (SCA) variances exceeded general combining ability (GCA) variances for most of the traits studied, indicating the predominance of non-additive gene action, except for node of first pistillate flower appearance and number of fruits per vine, where additive gene effects were more influential. Among the parental lines, RNMC-55 and RNMC-52 emerged as superior general combiners for fruit yield and related attributes. The cross RNMC-51 × RNMC-53 exhibited the best specific combining ability for days to first and last fruit harvest, fruit yield per vine, number of primary branches, and vine length. The hybrid RNMC-53 × RNMC-55 was identified as the best specific combiner for average fruit weight and fruit flesh thickness, while RNMC-54 × RNMC-55 recorded the highest significant SCA effects for node of first pistillate flower appearance, fruit diameter, and number of fruits per vine. The cross RNMC-52 × RNMC-54 showed superior performance for fruit length. Notably, the hybrids RNMC-53 × RNMC-55 (31.19%) and RNMC-52 × RNMC-55 (25.90%) exhibited high standard heterosis for fruit yield per vine along with significant SCA effects. These promising hybrids warrant further evaluation through large-scale yield trials prior to recommendation for commercial cultivation.

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