Heterosis for fruit yield and yield-contributing characters in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

The experiment was conducted to estimate the magnitude of heterosis for fruit yield and yield-contributing characters in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]. Eight genetically diverse parents namely, Hisar Naveen, Pusa Makhmali, Kashi Pragati, Hisar Unnat, Pusa A-4, No. 315, Varsha Uphar and Kashi Kranti were crossed in a diallel fashion (excluding reciprocals) to develop 28 F₁s. These crosses along with their parents were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications during kharif 2014 and zaid 2015 at Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner. Significance of mean squares due to genotypes revealed the presence of considerable genetic variability among them for all yield and yield-attributing characters except days taken to 50% flowering and days to first harvesting. Negatively heterotic crosses like Kashi Pragati × Varsha Uphar for days to 50% flowering (−6.62%) and Varsha Uphar × Kashi Kranti for first flowering nodes (−6.98%), respectively, were important to exploit heterosis for earliness in okra. An appreciable heterosis was observed over better parent (28.90%) and mid parent (29.02%) for marketable fruit yield/plant which showed good scope of heterosis breeding in okra. The most heterotic crosses for marketable fruit yield/plant and most of the other yield-contributing characters were found in Kashi Pragati × Varsha Uphar, No. 315 × Varsha Uphar, Kashi Pragati × Pusa A-4 and Hisar Naveen × Varsha Uphar. These crosses were considered promising for their use for yield improvement in okra.