Study on Character Association and Genetic Divergence (D2 ) in Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus(L.) moench

Abstract

The present investigation "Study on Character Association And Genetic Divergence (D2 ) in Okra (Abelmoscluts esculentus (L.) Moench.)," was conducted at Horticulture Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Modipuram, Meerut during the year 2012. Forty variable genotypes were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replication. The observations recorded were subjected to various statistical analysis. The analysis of variance revealed that all the forty varieties/strains here significantly differences for all the characters under study. The highest variability was noted for yield per plant followed by plant height and days to flowering. The studies on co-efficient of variability revealed that number of branches showed highest estimates, while it was lowest for days of flowering. The studies on genotypic and phenotypic co-efficient of variation revealed that highest co-efficient of variation was found width of fruit, whereas, lowest was for days to flowering. The maximum heritability was recorded for tapering length of fruits. Yield per plant was significantly and positively correlated with length of fruit, number of fruits per plant, plant height , number of nodes per plant, and number of first fruiting node. It was also positively correlated with number of branches per plant and tapering lengt4 of fruit at phenotypic level. However, it was negatively correlated with days to flower and width of fruit in both genotypic and phenotypic levels Therefore, selection pressure should be exerted on all the traits except days to flowering and width of fruit. The path co-efficient analysis revealed that maximum direct effect on yield was thereby plant height. The maximum genetic divergence was observed between Custer-III and IV suggesting wide diversity between these groups hybridization between genotypic and phenotypic from cluster III and cluster IV may be useful to improve the crop .. Similarly, the minimum divergence was observed in Cluster-1 showing close relationship. Thus, these statistical analysis exhibited parallel results. The low estimate of residual effect indicated that all the characters which were expected to govern the yield directly of indirectly have been throughly s~died.