Genetics and Plant Breeding Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002, Cuddalore (D. T), Tamil Nadu.
In the present investigation the genetic causes of heterosis in okra were elucidated by using diallel analysis (7 x 7). Combining ability was observed to be more important for observed heterosis and not the gene distribution. The direct and reciprocal cross combinations of Pusa A4 x Punjab Padmini, Varsha Uphar x Punjab Padmini, Pusa A4 x EMS 8 and the cross Parbhani Kranti x Punjab Padmini and Pusa A4 x Parbhani Kranti which portrayed high mean and commercial heterosis were endowed with significant sca effects and had both or atleast one of the parents with significant gca effects. The distribution of genes in the genotypes was asymmetrical. Hence, the observed hetrosis might be due to combining ability, epistasis and partly due to genetic diversity among parents.
Heterosis, gca and sca effects, gene distribution, genetic diversity
