The present investigation was conducted to 36 hybrids were evaluated for growth and earliness through line x tester method to identify combinations expressing high hybrid vigour in snake gourd. The analysis of variance revealed that mean squares due to progenies and parents were highly significant for all the traits like growth, earliness and yield characters. Among the 36 hybrids, seven hybrids viz., IC333314 x Kumbakonam Local (L2xT3), IC433526 x Kulithalai Local (L3xT1), IC546083 x Kulithalai Local (L6xT1), IC546083 x Kumbakonam Local (L6xT3), IC433526 x Kumbakonam Local(L3xT3), IC284753 x Kulithalai Local (L5xT1) and IC410160 x Jeyamkondam Local (L7xT2) exhibited highly significant positive standard heterosis for growth, earliness and yield. These seven hybrids were found to be suitable for exploiting heterosis. | Heterosis in snake gourd Trichosanthes cucumerina L. for growth and earliness
