Studies on genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to estimate the genetic variability in 40 okra genotypes. The variability parameters like range, coefficient of range, mean, genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability in broad sense, genetic advance and genetic advance as percentage of mean were estimated for 13 different characters. The values of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the 13 characters indicating less influence of environment in expression of traits. The high to moderate genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for number of branches per plant, green fruit yield per plant, number of fruits per plant, internodal length, plant height, number of nodes on main stem per plant and fruit length, while high heritability (broad sense) values were observed for all the eleven characters except for the two characters days to first picking and days to first flowering. The genetic advance expressed as percentage of mean was found high for number of branches per plant followed by green fruit yield per plant, number of fruits per plant, internodal length, plant height, number of nodes on main stem per plant and fruit length. The analysis of variance for experimental design indicated highly significant differences among all the genotypes for all the thirteen traits studied suggesting the presence of considerable amount of variability in the experimental material, which can be exploited for improvement of fruit yield and yield attributes in okra.