Study on Genetic Diversity in Okra [abelmoschus Esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

The present investigation entitled "Study on Genetic Diversity in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]" was executed at Horticultural Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Modipuram, Meerut. During zaid 2014, to assess variability, heritability and genetic advance for quantitative characters; estimate correlation coefficients among the important economic traits and, find out the direct and indirect effect of yield components on yield by path coefficient analysis and judge the genetic divergence within the genotypes for various quantitative traits. Experimental material was consisted of 30 genotypes of okra. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design with three replications. Each treatments consisted of 18 plan-ts in two row, having spacing of 60 em x 30 em. Observations were recorded on nine quantitative characters viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height (em), primary branches per plant, number of nodes per plant, number of first fruiting node, number of fruits per plant, fruit length (em), fruit width (em) and fruit yield per plant (g). The analysis of variance for the design of experiment indicated highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters. Based on mean performance of genotypes 1875 followed by 212-10-1 and Pusa-A-4 found as most promising genotypes for fruit yield per plant. High magnitude of variability were observed in case of fruit yield per plant followed by number of primary branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, number of nodes per plant, number of first fruiting node, fruit width, plant height and days to 50 per cent flowering and fruit length exhibited low value of variability. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance in per cent of mean were observed in case number of primary branches per plant followed by fruit yield per plant, and number of fruit per plant indicating opportunity for selection response. The number of fruits per plant. number of nodes per plant, plant height and number of primary branches per plant showed positive and desirable association with fruit yield and selection of these traits would be effective for yield improvement in okra. The highest magnitude of positive direct effect showed major contribution towards yield per plant was exerted by number of nodes per plant. While substantial positive indirect effect were exerted by plant height and negative indirect effect exerted by days to 50% flowering towards fruit yield per plant. Maximum intra cluster distance was estimated for cluster III while maximum ip.ter cluster distance were found between cluster V and cluster IV. Cluster IV showed the higher mean for fruit yield per plant while maximum contribution between towards clustering of genotypes was attributed by plant height. Divergence study suggested that crosses suggesting genotypes like 1999, EC-169367, IC-306053, 307-10-1 and 5135 for getting desired segregants from breeding point of view.