Genetic Diversity of bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] genotypes of Eastern India through agro-morphological traits and ISSR markers: Implication for future breeding

AbstractGenetic characterization of plant genetic resources is a pre-requisite for a strategic breeding program. Bottle gourd is an important cucurbit grown throughout India for its tender fruits used for culinary purpose. For the present investigation twenty-four genotypes of bottle gourd were collected from Eastern India to examine the magnitude of genetic diversity based upon 16 quantitative traits and seven ISSR (Inter simple sequence repeats) markers. In morphological study genotypes performed significantly in all traits, however BRBG-65 (591.10 q/ha) was proved to be high yielder with other attributing traits in pooled analysis of two growing seasons than compare to the all three check varieties of the region. Almost all the traits under study showed high percentage of genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation and heritability with genetic advancement. Quantitative traits like fruit weight, number of fruits per vine and yield of marketable fruits per vine shown strong character association with yield per hectare. Principal component analysis on quantitative traits depicted six principal components, accounted for 79.33% of the total variations. The first two components accounted for 44.92 cumulative percent of the total variation, which signifies a high degree of correlation between the analyzed traits. In the molecular study, average polymorphism percentage was obtained by ISSR marker pattern studied by seven primers. Total 48 reproducible amplicons were generated of an average around 6.85 amplicon per primer. The values of average polymorphic information content, major allele frequency and major gene diversity were obtained in wide range. Wide range of value regarding Jaccard’s similarity coefficient was also ensured through ISSR markers. Dendrogram and similarity matrix produced from ISSR data then compared and concluded the discrimination among genotypes within these clusters. Most genotypes studied in the present experiment differed with their geographic origin. The investigation highlights the potential utilization of these germplasm for further genetic analysis.