Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient studies for yield attributes in BYVMV resistant genotypes of okra

Abstract

Thirty diverse okra genotypes were evaluated for 16 yield attributing traits during the kharif season 2013-14 in Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. The general mean of yield attributing traits data showed that there was considerable variation among the genotypes for most of the characters under study. High GCV, heritability and genetic advance was exhibited by per cent disease incidence, showing the high heritability. Similarly, days to Ist flowering, average fruit weight and yield also showed high heritability. Correlation studies at genotypic level showed the presence of negative and significant correlation of yield/plant with BYVMV disease after 30, 60 and 90 days of sowing (-0.53**, -0.82** and -0.69** respectively). However, yield was positively correlated with average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruits per plant and number of fruiting nodes. Path-coefficient analysis at genotypic level showed that internodal length, number of branches, number of fruiting nodes, fruit diameter and number of seeds/fruit had high direct effect on yield. While days to 50% flowering and plant height had negative direct effect on yield/plant. The residual effect was found very low (0.0243) indicating that most of the variability present in the genotypes was explained with traits under study.