Variance components and heritability estimation of agronomic traits, such as fruit shape in bottlegourd are very importam to define selection strategies and to estimate selection gain. Nine progénies of half-sib families were evaluated aiming to estimate variance and covariance components, the heritability of fruit shape and to understand the origin of the genetic gain with mass selection in bottlegourd fruits. Significative estimates were found for genetic variance of large diameter and neck diameter o f the "cuia" (commercial part of the bottlegourd) and for environmental variance of fruit shape. Heritability estimate for fruit shape selection based on fruit was moderately (0.36) and moderately high for family mean (0.53). Mass selection based upon mean population performance or within populations is the breeding method more appropriate for improvement of fruit shape in bottlegourd.
heritability; genetic variance; selection; bottlegourd
