Variability, heritability, genetic advance and genetic diversity studies on okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench germplasm

Field investigations were carried out with 52 okra accessions. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variability (GCV and PCV= >20%) were observed for plant height at 90 DAS, number of nodes per plant, number of fruits per plant, rind thickness, seed yield per fruit and number of seeds per fruit. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance over mean was observed for plant height at 45 and 90 DAS, number of leaves at 90 DAS, first flowering node, number of nodes per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, rind thickness, number of ridges on fruit surface, seed yield per fruit and number of seeds per fruit. Thus most of the characters do have ample scope for improving through direct selection. Genetic divergence was studied with same genotypes and the maximum number of genotypes (37) was found in cluster I with intra-cluster distance of 9.85. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed in between cluster IV and cluster VII. Hence genotypes belonging to these clusters may be utilized for involving in hybridization programme for crop improvement. The characters of number of ridges on fruit surface contributed maximum (32.5%) to the genetic diversity followed by rind thickness (16.67%) and seed yield per fruit (12.22%) contributed more to genetic divergence.