Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
KG Kute, DK Zate, AP Ghadage, SB Mitkari and SD Deshmukh

Abstract:
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance in thirty-six diverse genotypes of okra for yield and yield-contributing characters at the experimental research farm of the Breeder Seed Production Unit, VNMKV, Parbhani (M.S.) during kharif 2022. The analysis of variance shows a significant amount of variability among genotypes of okra for all characters studied. Genetic variability analysis revealed a high magnitude of genetic variability for the traits, viz., plant height and pod yield per plant. As genetic variability in any crop is pre-requisite for the selection of superior genotypes over the existing cultivars, it is effective for the selection of an appropriate breeding strategy for evolving superior varieties. A high percent of genotypic co-efficient of variation (>20%) was observed for the number of ridges per fruit, yield per plant and percent of incidences of YVMV. The estimates of heritability in a broad sense range from 13.3% for fruit diameter to 99.9% for the number of ridges per fruit. While high heritability accompanied by high genetic advance was recorded for the characters plant height, internodal length, number of ridges per fruit, fruit weight, fruit length, leaf area, number of seeds per fruit, 100 seed weight, percent pod borer infestation, percent incidence of YVMV and yield per plant, it indicated the prevalence of additive gene effects, and thus selection for these characters in genetically diverse material would be effective for desired genetic improvement.