Genetic analysis of pod yield and its contributing traits in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Genetic analysis of okra was done using parents, F₁s and F₂s population. Results indicated the importance of both additive and dominance component for all the traits except intermodal length in summer season and plant height in rainy season in the cross KS-410 x HRB-55. However, in the cross Varsa Upahar x Arka Anamika, the dominance component were higher in both the seasons except 100-seed weight in summer season, whereas, in case of additive component, only days to first flowering and days to 50% flowering in summer season and pod yield per plant in both the seasons recorded higher for the same cross. Average degree of dominance ranged from partial dominance to complete dominance for most of the traits during both the season and in both the crosses. Yield and yield traits showed greater magnitude of most of the estimates in the rainy season as compared to summer season. High heritability and high genetic advance were observed for all the traits except inter nodal length, number of seed per pod and plant height in both the seasons and nod at which first flower appears in rainy season for the cross KS-410 x HRB-55. However, in the case of Varsa Upahar x Arka Anamika, estimates of heritability was low in both the season. Higher genetic advance were also observed in the cross KS-410 x HRB-55 in both the seasons except inter nodal length and 100 seed weight, but in the case of Varsa Upahar x Arka Anamika, the characters like node at which first flower appears, inter nodal length and 100 seed weigh showed lower in both the seasons. The result suggests that a breeding programme which exploits additive as well as dominant gene action could be suitably utilized for further improvement of yield in okra.