Characterization of Okra Germplasm and Their Genetic Divergence in The Gangetic Alluvium of Eastern India

Eighteen okra genotypes of diverse origin were grown in a randomised complete block design during spring-summer and rainy seasons. Morphological characterization was done as per documented descriptors. The data collected on 15 characters were subjected to analysis of variance. Wide variations have been observed in most of characters studied except number of lateral branches per plant, node at first flowering, fruit diameter, number of ridges per fruit and crude protein content of the fruit. Genotypes were categorized according to disease reaction by disease index scale. By multivariate analysis (Mahalanobis D² technique), the genetic divergence among the genotypes were quantitatively measured. The genotypes were grouped into seven clusters by this technique. There was no relationship between clustering pattern and ecogeographic distribution. The effect of genetic divergence on the choice of parental stock in hybridization was discussed.