Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Radadiya Chirag, Mehta DR and Rathod R

Abstract:
Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] has a prominent position in vegetables due to its wider adaptability, year-round export potential and high nutritive value. Breeders and growers of okra would profit from robust genotypes with improved morphological and fruit yield-related characteristics. To escape from pest infestation and disease incidence, earliness from flowering to maturity is most desirable. The aim of this work is to determine the nature and magnitude of gene action on fruit yield, to define the best combinations of earliness and yield characters, develop hybrids that perform better on drought escape. During the year 2022, 10 different parents, namely Punjab Suhavani, GAO-8, GO-2, AOL-19-09, Pusa Sawani, Kashi Kranti, GAO-5, AOL-18-06, AOL-19-12 and AOL-18-08 were crossed using a 10×10 half-diallel set analysis without reciprocals to generate 45 F₁ crosses and evaluated in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results indicated significant entries, parents, hybrids mean squares suggesting that okra population was highly variable for all the traits under study. Appreciable heterosis was found over standard check for all characters. Significant combining ability SCA variance estimates were more considerable than general combining ability (GCA) variance for all characters indicated preponderance of non-additive gene action in governing the traits. The Parent Punjab Suhavani was recognized as the best general combiner for most earliness and fruit yield attributes. Among 45 hybrids, Punjab Suhavani × Pusa Sawani and AOL-19-12 × AOL-18-08 exhibited high, significant and desirable standard heterosis, per se performance and sca effect for most of the traits including fruit yield per plant (g). Heterosis breeding would be most efficient for qualities where high performance was determined by dominance and dominance gene effects.