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The current study investigates the Specific Combining Ability (SCA) effects of various hybrid combinations in a plant breeding experiment to identify promising hybrids for yield-related traits. The hybrids were evaluated across multiple traits, including days to an thesis, internodal length, vine length, fruit weight, and fruit yield per vine. Significant variations in SCA effects were observed, with some hybrids displaying predominantly positive SCA effects, indicating strong performance, while others exhibited negative effects, suggesting poor performance. Notably, the hybrid combinations VRCU 23-22 × VRCU 23-15-A and VRCU 22-16 × VRCU 22-39 showed promise for improving yield-related traits. Conversely, hybrids such as VRCU 23-23 × VRCU 23-15-A and VRCU 23-22 × VRCU 22-39 demonstrated less potential. These findings align with previous studies and provide critical in sights for selecting the best hybrid combinations in breeding programs aimed at enhancing specific traits in the plant population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the General Combining Ability (GCA) effects of six parental lines of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) BG-1, BG-2, BG-6, BG-7, BG-8 and BG-15 to identify their potential for hybrid breeding programs. Bitter gourd, a widely cultivated crop in the Cucurbitaceae family, exhibits significant variability in fruit traits and regional preferences across India. The research, conducted at the Crop Research Centre -3, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on key agronomic and morphological traits, including flowering time, vine characteristics, fruit morphology, and yield components. GCA effects were estimated using Griffing's method 2, model 1 (fixed model) for diallel analysis. Results indicated that BG-7 exhibited consistently positive GCA effects for several yield-related traits, such as the number of fruits per vine, fruit weight and marketable yield per hectare, making it a superior parent for hybrid breeding. Conversely, BG-1 showed negative GCA effects for traits like vine length and number of fruits per vine, which might be advantageous for specific breeding goals such as early maturity and compact plant structure. The findings underscore the importance of GCA in selecting parental lines for developing high-yielding hybrids. Parental lines with positive GCA effects for key traits can enhance hybrid performance, contributing to improved productivity and quality in bitter gourd cultivation. These insights are crucial for optimizing breeding strategies and achieving sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]