Diversity studies in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench.)

Abstract

Genetic divergence was studied among 35 okra germplasm lines using Mahalanobis D2 analysis. Analysis of variances for dispersion indicated significant differences among the genotypes and they were grouped into nine clusters. The cluster A consisted of 25 genotypes followed by cluster E contain 3 genotypes, whereas cluster B, C, D, F, G, H and I and were solitary clusters. The highest inter cluster distance observed between clusters E and cluster G while cluster E shown maximum intra cluster distance. The characters diameter of fruit (43.53%) contributed maximum genetic divergence followed by length of fruit (23.53%), plant height (10.92%). Cluster I and F shown high cluster means for yield and yield component, therefore genotypes viz. G-15, G-16, G-24 from cluster E and G-2 from cluster G of these diverse clusters may be used for further hybridization.