Genetic divergence in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench.)

Abstract

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) is an important vegetable crop grown in world as well as India. Hybrid vigour was already successfully exploited in okra with commercial hybrid development; therefore, genetic divergence among the parents is important factor while selecting the parents for hybridization. Ramanujam et al. (1974) also observed that a cross involving genetically diverse parents is more likely to produce high heterotic effects as compared with lines which are more closely related with each other. Moll et al. (1974) indicated that the level of heterosis exhibited by a hybrid is a function of the genetic divergence between parents. Cress (1966) demonstrated that ‘genetic diversity is necessary for significant heterosis but not sufficient to guarantee it