Genetic Divergence and Cluster Analysis in Okra (Abelmoschusesculentus (L.) Monech)

A study was conducted on thirty three genotypes of okra collected from IIVR, Varanasi (ICAR) under AICRP on Vegetable Crops of OUAT, Odisha to assess the value and magnitude of genetic divergence using Mahalanobis D² statistics. The result revealed wide genetic diversity among the 33 evaluated genotypes which were grouped into 8 clusters based on 13 important characters in okra. The cluster I was the largest containing 08 genotypes followed by cluster III with 07 genotypes. The diversity among the cluster was measured by inter-cluster distance, highest being observed in between cluster III and cluster VI (D² = 104.10) followed by cluster II and cluster VI (D² = 100.54). Therefore, selection of divergent parents of okra based on these cluster distance would be useful in selecting genotypes for hybridization and thereby formulating a comprehensive strategy to develop superior hybrids or better segregants in okra. In the present study, superior hybrids or variety (s) can obtained by crossing parents of two divergent groups, cluster III (OKHYB-4, OKHYB-13, OKHYB-6, OKHYB-7, OKHYB-8, OKHYB-10 and OKHYB-12) with cluster VI (Arka Anamika and Pusa Sawani).