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

The present study was undertaken on 163 genotypes including 43 parents and 120 crosses of okra to determine the genetic variability, nature of association among different yield attributes and their direct and indirect contribution towards yield. From the analysis of variance, it was observed that mean squares due to genotypes were significant for all the traits, indicating the presence of genetic variability in the experimental material. The values of PCV were higher than that of GCV values for all the ten characters indicating influence of environmental effects in the expression of these characters. The GCV, heritability and genetic advance as percentage of mean were higher for plant height, fruit yield per plant, fruit weight and days to 50 per cent flowering which might be attributed to additive gene action of inheritance. The Fruit yield has significantly positive correlation with plant height, number of branches per plant, inter nodal length, fruit length, fruit weight and number of fruits per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level, indicating mutual association of these traits. Path coefficient analysis revealed that fruit weight had maximum direct contribution (0.884) towards fruit yield followed by number of fruits per plant (0.852), plant height (0.024) and number of branches per plant (0.020). However, days to 50 per cent flowering exhibited highest negative direct effect (- 0.013) followed by test weight (-0.009) and fruit diameter (-0.003). These important traits may be viewed in selection programme for the further improvement of okra.