Generation mean analysis in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

The nature and magnitude of gene action was analyzed using six generation mean for pod yield and yield contributing characters in six inter varietal crosses of okra. The results revealed that both additive and dominance gene effects were significant for majority of the traits in all the six crosses studied, however the magnitude of dominance gene effects was much higher than the additive effects in all the crosses for majority of the traits which indicated pre-dominant role of dominance gene effects in the inheritance of yield/plant and its related traits. Study indicated that dominance gene effects for pod yield and yield contributing characters were of prime important. All the characters recorded significant additive and dominance gene effect but the magnitude of dominance gene effect was higher. Among the non-allelic interactions, additive x additive and dominance x dominance were found significant, the opposite sign of (h) and (I) indicated that both the characters are controlled by duplicate type of epistasis. So, further improvement could be expected through bi-parental mating or reciprocal recurrent selection.