Genetic divergence analysis of indigenous and exotic collections in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Abstract

Using D2 statistics, the 45 genotypes of okra were grouped into nine non-overlapping clusters. This indicated considerable diversity among the genotypes evaluated in the present study. The cluster I had 17 genotypes out of 45 entries. The cluster II contained 14 genotypes, while cluster IV had five genotypes of diverse origin. The cluster VI contained the genotypes having high mean performance for plant height, days to first fruit initiation, days to 50% flowering, number of branches/plant, days to first fruit harvest, cluster VIII having 4 genotypes having high mean for number of fruits/plant, fresh fruit weight, cluster IV had the genotypes with highest mean for 100 seed weight. The highest inter cluster distance was recorded between cluster VIII and IX followed by cluster I and VIII and cluster III and VIII. This showed that genotypes in different clusters are genetically variable which may provide basis for consideration in hybridization programme.