Revealing genetic diversity for the improvement of pod yield in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Seventy five okra genotypes were examined for genetic divergence for fruit yield and its contributing traits during summer,2020 at Regional Horticultural Research & Training Station, Jachh, Nurpur, Himachal Pradesh. Higher PCV and GCV values were observed for fruit weight, days to 50 per cent flowering, internodal length and fruit production/plant. High heritability along with genetic advance was observed for days to 50 per cent flowering, the first fruiting node, internodal length, fruit weight, number of seeds/fruit, plant height, and fruit yield/plant. Fruit weight, first fruiting node, number of ridges/fruit, days to 50 per cent flowering, fruit diameter, number of fruits/plant and leaf width recorded positive and significant phenotypic as well as genotypic correlation with fruit yield/plant. The path coefficient study revealed that fruit weight had the greatest positive direct impact on fruit yield/plant; followed by number of fruits/plant, first fruiting node, days to 50 per cent flowering, leaf width and hundred seed weight. Based on genetic divergence, the genotypes were divided into five clusters, with cluster I having the highest intra-cluster distance whereas, the lowest was observed in Cluster II. Clusters I and V showed the greatest inter-cluster distance, while the Clusters III and V showed the lowest. Therefore, to develop successful recombinant segregants, it would be advantageous to use genotypes from such clusters, depending on the distances between them.