Studies on combining ability in okra through diallel analysis

Variance due to general and specific combining abilities were significant for different characters in okra. Combining ability study in okra revealed that the ratio²sca/²gca were greater than unity indicating preponderance of additive gene for the expression of characters under study. Among parents, IC-73352, Okra No.-6, Pb-8, VB-9101 and Punjab Padmini for days to 50% flowering; Punjab-8, IC-73352, BO-1, Okra No 6 and IC-69117 for plant height; BO-1, Okra No. 6, IC-73352, Pb-8, IC-69117, Arka Abhay and VRO-3 for number of branches/plant; Punjab-8, Punjab Padmini, IC-69117, IC-73352, Arka Abhay for number of fruits/plant; Punjab Padmini, VRO-3, Arka Abhay, and Punjab8 and IC-69117 for pod yield/plant were found good general combiners. However, in specific combining ability study, the cross, VRO-3 x Arka Abhay and Punjab Padmini x Arka Abhay for pod yield/plant; VRO-3 x IC-69117 for plant height; Punjab-8 x BO-1 for number of branches/plant; IC-73352 x Punjab Padmini for number of pods/plant; VRO-3 x IC-73352 for pod length; Punjab-8 x IC-68364 for pod diameter; Punjab-8 x IC-69117 for pod weight; IC73352 x VB-9101 for number of seeds/pod exhibit high specific combing ability.