Assessment of Genotype × Environment Interaction and Stability Analysis in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] Genotypes under Kashmir Conditions

An experiment was conducted to evaluate twelve genotypes of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) obtained from the Division of Vegetable Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir and some private vegetable seed companies for their performance and stability at three locations in Kashmir valley viz., Experimental fields of the Division of Vegetable science, SKUAST-K, Shalimar (E₁), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Budgam (E₂) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Malangpora (E₃) during kharif 2020. The experiment was laid in a randomized block design with three replications at each location. The pooled analysis of variance for stability of genotypes over three environments indicated significant differences among the genotypes and environments for all the traits studied. The interaction component genotype × environment was significant for all the traits under study. The linear component of environment followed the same trend as non-linear component. According to environmental indices, the environment E 1, i.e., the Experimental Farm of Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST-K, Shalimar was found to be most favourable environment for the expression of almost all traits. Among the genotypes, Arka Anamika, SK-BS-11 and Pusa Sawani showed average stability for the most economic trait i.e., fruit yield plot^-1. The genotypes that were found to be stable in all environments for most of the traits were Arka Anamika, IC-18530, SK-BS-11and Pusa Sawani. This implied that these genotypes contributed less to the genotype × environment interaction. Therefore, these genotypes being stable for most of the yield attributing traits under study have been recommended to farmers for cultivation under Kashmir valley conditions.