Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources

Field trials were conducted with 904 accessions of indigenous and exotic okra (Ablemoschus esculetus (L.) Moench) germplasm from 1999 to 2001 to identify high yielding genotypes and to study the selection response for fruit yield. Both inter and intra population selection was carried out. Fortyone out of 904 accessions recorded high yield over check variety Arka Anamika. Accessions IC 45802 exhibited significantly more fruits per plant (13.00) followed by EC 329386 and EC 305609. Three accessions namely, IC 69304, EC 305609 and IC 140929 II outperformed for fruit weight per plant. Accession EC 305609 registered consistently superior yield over years and is hence worthy for commercial exploitation. The direction of selection response was positive as well as negative. Selection response was high and positive when fruit yield per plant in the parental population (X) was low and vice versa. The results of the study revealed that in the initial phase of breeding programme, selection between accessions for yield might be useful. However, once the yield level reached a ceiling limit or plateau point, recombination breeding or heterosis breeding would be most effective as this trait was governed by polygene with additive as well as non-additive gene action.