Inheritance of quality attributes in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

An experiment was conducted to study the gene action and inheritance of quality attributing traits in okra. Six generations of two crosses of okra (Punjab-8 x Arya Dhanlaxhmi and Punjab-8 x Pusa sawani) were derived and evaluated for protein content, total minerals and mucilage content. F₁ means of both the crosses surpassed both of their corresponding parental means suggesting over dominance for protein content, total minerals and mucilage content except for mucilage content in cross Punjab-8 x Pusa Sawani. Evidence of epistasis was detected for all the traits. Both fixable and non-fixable gene effects govern the inheritance for all the traits except for mucilage content in cross Punjab-8 x Pusa Sawani. Dominance gene effects were found to contribute more substaintially in the inheritance of these traits along with the presence of duplicate type of epistasis. Therefore, genetic improvement of okra with respect to these attributes in this material can be made through pure line breeding or inbred development.