Indian Journal of Agricultural Research

SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 4

Combining ability and gene action studies for fruit yield and its component traits in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) moench]

  • Author:
  • Sai Keerthana1,*, Nidhi Dubey1, I.R. Delvadiya2, D.D. Patel1, A.V. Ginoya3
  • Total Page Count: 7
  • Page Number: 621 to 627

1Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara-144 411, Punjab, India

2Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh-362 001, Gujarat, India

3Department of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Co-operation Department, Government of Gujarat, Devbhumi Dwarka-361 305, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Okra commonly known as Lady’s finger is queen of vegetables. The study focuses on assessing the combining ability in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) across 12 traits, encompassing characteristics like earliness and fruit yield. The choice of parents for hybridization plays a critical role in breeders efforts to enhance complex quantitative traits such as fruit yield and its components, necessitating thorough genetic evaluations of existing germplasm and newly developed lines. Criteria for parental selection hinge on the magnitude and nature of gene actions, aiming to breed recombinants with desirable traits post-hybridization.

In the study, 35 F1 hybrids were developed from 12 genotypes of okra, involving 7 lines and 5 testers. Evaluation occurred in a randomized block design with 3 replications during Kharif 2023. Twelve quantitative traits were analyzed from five randomly selected plants of each parent and F1 generation. Analysis included ANOVA for Line×Tester interaction and assessment of combining ability following Kempthorne suggestions in 1957. The effects of General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability were estimated (SCA).

Non-additive gene activity prevailed in the study, with specific parents showing strong general combining abilities. Certain hybrid combinations displayed promising effects on fruit yield per plant, warranting further investigation. The analysis highlighted the significance of both additive and dominant genetic components in fruit yield, with dominance variance notably influencing certain traits. Overdominance and gene symmetry were observed, alongside a predominance of dominant alleles. High narrow-sense heritability was noted for most traits studied.

Keywords

Earliness, GCA, Gene action, Non-additive, Okra, SCA, Yield