Combining ability for fruit yield and its components in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

The experiment was undertaken to study the combining ability for yield and its attributing traits in okra. Information on the magnitude of combining ability was obtained for fruit yield per plant and its related components following line x tester mating design involving 12 diverse varieties/strains (8 lines and 4 testers). The 12 parents and their 32 resultant F1s were sown in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. Combining ability analysis revealed that the mean squares due to lines x testers were found highly significant for all the traits under study as well as the magnitudes of SCA variances were higher than the corresponding GCA variances for all the traits. These findings indicated more importance of non-additive gene action as compared to additive gene action in the expression of fruit yield and its component traits. Among the parents, only HRB-108-2 was found as good general combiner for fruit yield per plant and related traits. Thus, the parent was good general combiner for fruit yield per plant also showed good general combining ability for one or more component traits. The hybrid Arka Anamika x GJO-3 showed high sca effects for fruit yield per plant along with significant desirable sca effects for a number of branches per plant, also.