Diversity analysis of phenotypic traits in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

It is necessary to obtain cultivars which provide high yield by exploiting desirable traits from wild genotypes of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). Okra genotypes were evaluated for phenotypic traits during 2018. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) occurred for nine traits and narrow differences between GCV and PCV indicated the influence of environment was negligible. High estimates of heritability, coupled with moderate to high genetic advance as a percent over mean, were recorded for nine traits. Thousand seed weight had a positive, significant, correlation with yield per hectare. Plant height and number of fruits per plant had direct and positive effects towards the yield per hectare The principal component analysis indicated the first 3 principal components contributed 80.517% of total variation among traits describing genotypes. Cluster analysis indicated hybridization of genotypes among inter-cluster I and II could be used to develop stable, uniform varieties in diverse climatic conditions. EC359637 and IARI Selection 2 are distantly placed and can be used for overall improvement in further crop breeding.