ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC DIVERSITY OF INDIGENOUS RIDGE GOURD [LUFFA ACUTANGULA (ROXB.) L.] GENOTYPES OF NORTH EAST INDIA AS REVEALED BY SDS-PAGE.

Protein content was estimated in seeds of fourty genotypes of ridge gourd. Total seed storage proteins of ridge gourd genotypes analyzed by SDS-PAGE and showed substantial variation in banding pattern of total protein, which varied from 8-24 numbers of bands. The similarity index was calculated on the basis of presence (+) or absence (-) of bands and the dendrogram constructed grouped the 40 genotypes in two major clusters which were further sub divided in four sub clusters. The clustering pattern reflected that the genotype CHFRG35 was most distantly related to CHFRG36 and identified as potential genotypes for crossing programme and to develop new improved cultivars of desired traits. Assessment of genetic diversity of ridge gourd genotypes from various regions of India could be utilised for augmenting the database that would contribute towards systematic breeding programmes and minimizing genetic erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]