Study on combining ability for yield and yield components in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

The combining ability in 21 F₁s of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] were studied for 15 characters through diallel hybridization technique without reciprocals with seven parents in RBD with three replications. Both general combining ability and specific combining ability variances were significant for plant height, internodal length, number of fruits/plant, stem diameter, fruit yield/plant and fibre content. Thus, both additive and nonadditive variance are important in expression of these traits. Genotypes, GAO-5, AOL-09-02 and AOL-09-17, were good general combiner for fruit yield. The estimates of sca effect showed the cross combinations, GAO-5 × AOL09–02, AOL-09-17 × AOL-09-02 and GAO-5 × AOL-09-17. most promising for fruit yield and other traits.