Study on Combining Ability and Heterosis in Okra [Abelmoschus Esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

The present invest1gatJon entitled Study on Combimng Ab1lity and Heteros1s in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moenchr was carried out with the experimental matenal compnsed of 36 F, w1th 12 lines and 3 testers These materials were generated 1n a hne x tester fashion dunng za1d 2007 and grown for b1ometrical analySIS during kharif 2007 at Horticultural Research Centre of Sardar Vallabh Bha1 Patel University of Agnculture & Technology, Meerut -2501 10 (U.P). The observations were recorded on randomly selected five plants of each parent and F, in each row from each replication for 11 characters Data were analysed by us1ng the standard statistical methods Analysis of variance revealed the s1gn1f1cant differences among the genotypes for all the characters except frUit diameter and number of branches per plant. Number of branches showed high GCV and PCV whereas, days flowering to maturity, number of branches per plant and fruit yield per plant exh1b1ted h1gh hentab1lity Fruit y1eld per plant exhibited sigmficant and positive correlation w1th frUit length, days flowering to maturity and number of fru1ts per plant at phenotypiC level wh1le 11 showed s1gn1ficant and pos1hve correlation with plant he1ght. number of fruits per plant, fruit length, length of first fru1hng node, days nowenng to matunty and fru1t we1ght at genotypic level Frwt length, number of fru1ts per plant, days tc> nowenng, number of seeds per fruit and fruit diameter had direct contnbut1on while length of f1rst fruiting node, number of fruits per plant and number of seeds per frUit contnbuted towards frurt y1eld per plant via days nowenng to maturity Among the parents. the hnes KS-446, KS-450 KS-437, 80-2 and KS-423 and the testers AB-2 and VR0-3 were the best based on the mean and GCA effects. Considenng the mean performance, SCA effects and standard heteros1s for crosses viz. KS-446 x AB-2 KS-446 " VR0-3. KS-450 " VR0-3 and KS-305 x AB-2 were superior for fruit yield and recommended for further evaluation It is concluded that wh1le formulating breeding programme both additive and nonadditive component must be considered as because both were important for major yield contnbutlng traits. In order to combine vanous desirable attributes for genetic amelioration of okra Multiple cross1ng would be the most appropriate approach