Advanced mutant lines have been selected from M4 generation and its qualitative and quantitative characters were evaluated in spring-summer season at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, during 2016. Different qualitative characters of mutant lines have been recorded and observed that the some characters changed from that of the parental control. Analysis of variance due to treatments was significant for all the characters proved higher variability among the mutant lines. Reduced number of primary branches and number of nodes on the main stem were observed in all the studied mutant lines against control. Among the mutant lines, earliest flowering, maximum fruit length and girth were observed in BCSG-2. BCSG-4 registered minimum sex ratio, average fruit weight, fruit girth and fruit length, whereas maximum number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant were recorded than the other putative mutants. Though, no putative mutants surpassed the parental genotype (GB Desi) for fruit yield per plant. A mutant, BCSG-4 found to be the best for fruit yield, number of fruits, sex ratio and fruit shape. Hence, the stability of the desirable changes should be checked in successive generations. | Qualitative and quantitative characterization of snake gourd (Trichosanthes anguina L.) mutant lines
