Genetic variability in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. moench.)

A field experiment was conducted at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut during kharif season. Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of 13 quantitative characters in 17 okra genotypes were studied. Significant differences among genotypes were observed for all the characters under study. The characters plant height and number of branches per plant showed high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV). High heritability was recorded for all the characters studied except days to 50 per cent flowering which exhibited moderate heritability. The characters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, number of nodes per plant, intermodallength, number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per fruit, harvest index and total yield per plant exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance over mean (GAM) which indicated that there was more number of additive factors and therefore, further improvement could brought by selection.