Assessment of genetic diversity in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) for yield and yellow vein mosaic virus incidence

Thirteen diverse genotypes were evaluated to assess the genetic diversity in a randomized block design during 2013–14 for yield and yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV) incidence in Okra. On the basis of D² values, the 30 genotypes were clustered into six groups. Cluster II constituted the largest group (11 genotypes) followed by cluster in and cluster VI (5 genotypes each). The cluster IV and V contain 4 genotypes each, whereas only 1 genotypes present in cluster I. The character coefficient of infection alone contributes highest percentage (51%) toward divergence, followed by number of branches per plant (24%), percentage disease incidence (12%). The first six principal components have accounted 84.00% of total variation and percent variation expected were 24.00% (PC1), 19.50% (PC2), 14.30% (PC3), 11.48% (PC4), 7.97% (PC5) and 6.80% (PC6), respectively. The PC1 has positive association with days to first picking, followed by days to first flowering and days to 50% flowering. However, PC1 has negative association for fruits per plant and fruit weight. Therefore, the traits viz., days to first picking, first flowering node and days to first flowering should be given top priority in diverse parent selection for attempting high yielding along with YVMV tolerant hybrids in okra.

• Hybridization between genotypes from cluster I and V might be beneficial

• Coefficient of infection and number of branch contributes maximum diversity