Genetic Diversity, Heritability, Genetic Advance of Growth and Yield Traits of Some Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus L. Moench) Accessions

Genetic improvement of okra for yield is significant to overcome the low genetic potential of the existing varieties and environmental factors which are the major constraints to okra yield. This study was carried out to understand the genetic nature of yield and its components on which selection can be made. The seed of each accession was sown in a plot laid out in randomised complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on fifteen agronomic characters and analysed. The magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were highest for number of pods and lowest for number of days to germination respectively. The PCV was moderately higher than GCV in most of the traits studied, which indicated that environment played a little role in the expression of these traits. Low heritability was recorded for number of leaves and number of branches which indicated more influence of environmental effect, which may be due to the presence of non-additive gene action in the expression of the traits. High heritability and high genetic advance as percent of mean were recorded for plant height at flowering, days to 50% flowering, plant height at maturity, internode length, number of pods and days to maturity, indicating that these traits were less influenced by environment and presence of additive gene action. NGB00378A, NGB00299, NGB00304 and NGB00302 had higher fruit yields; flowered earlier, had longer harvesting period. Therefore, selection can be made on these for further improvement of this crop.