Estimation of genetic variability in diverse germplasm of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.]

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the genetic
variability and character association using diverse
germplasm of okra grown at the Research Farm of Division
of Vegetable Science, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research
Institute, New Delhi. Results of analysis of variance
(ANOVA) and high genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic
coefficient of variation (PCV) values indicate existence of
ample amount of variability for yield traits among the
genotypes. For majority traits, greater but negligible high
PCV values than GCV indicate minor environmental influence
on traits expression. Moderate to high heritability and
genetic advance was observed for important yield traits such
as plant height, fruit weight, and number of branch/plant,
number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant implying
involvement of additive gene effects. Significantly high and
positive correlations of fruit yield per plant was recorded
with fruit weight (0.952**), number of fruits per plant
(0.726**), plant height (0.726**), number of nodes on main
stem (0.509**) and days to 50% flowering (0.489**).
Incidence of YVMV disease at different growth stages of
plant showed negative correlation with fruit yield.
Furthermore, path analysis results showed positive direct
effect of fruit weight (0.062) on fruit yield per plant followed
by inter nodal length (0.059), number of fruits per plant (0.035),
days to 50% flowering (0.032) and fruit length (0.006).
Significant positive correlation and positive direct effect on
fruit yield per plant signifies that direct selection for these
traits will be effective to evolve high yielding okra varieties.