Genetic Variability and Divergence Analysis in Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus (L.) Moench)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the genetic variability among the Forty genotypes were collected from different geographical origins during summer season (2019). At morphological level, ANOVA showed significant variation for all traits indicating greater variability in germplasm. The high percent of genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation (>25%) was observed for number of primary branches, which indicates that high degree of variability in these characters and suggested that possibility of yield improvement through selectin of this traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded in plant height, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant, number of nodes per plant, number of primary branches, fruit yield, length of internode, days to first flower initiation, days to 50% flowering, and days to first fruit set. Which indicates that above characters may be most potential for further improvement. The genotypic correlation was higher in magnitude than the phenotypic correlation coefficient. Fruit yield showed positive and significant correlation with fruit yield per plant, number of fruits per plant, plant height, length of internode, fruit length, number of primary branches and duration of crop both genotypic and phenotypic level. Path coefficient analysis showed positive direct effect observed for fruit yield per plant followed by plant height, days to first flower initiation, number of primary branches and days to first fruit picking on fruit yield. By improving other characters fruit yield in okra might be improved. Mahalanobis D2 statistics revealed that a considerable genetic diversity was found among genotypes. Total study forty genotypes of okra were three clusters formed. The cluster I (11 genotypes) and cluster II (21 genotypes) were obtained the maximum number of genotypes and lowest in cluster III (8 genotypes). The maximum inter cluster D2 distance was recorded between Cluster I and Cluster III and the minimum inter cluster D2 distance was recorded between cluster I and Cluster II. The maximum intra cluster Distance was found in cluster III followed by cluster I. The minimum intra cluster distance was recorded cluster II. The maximum inter cluster D2 distance indicates that genotypes of Cluster I and Cluster III are not closely related, whereas, the genotypes of cluster I and II were found closely related due to minimum inter cluster D2 distance. The maximum contribution percentage was found with length of internode among all the characters contributed.