Stability analysis for fruit yield and its attributing characters in okra [Abelmoschus esculantus (L.) Moench].

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE SUMMARY Stability performance of 49 okra entries including 13 genetically diverse parents and 36 crosses were compared by using stability analysis for fruit yield and its yield attributing characters such as days to flowering, number of nodes per plant, inter-nodal length (cm), plant height (cm), branches per plant, fruit length (cm), fruit girth (cm), number of fruits per plant and fruits yield per plant (g) in three consecutive seasons. The analysis of variance for stability revealed that the differences among the genotypes were highly significant for all the characters when tested against the pooled error, pooled deviation and G x E interaction indicating the presence of variability among the genotypes under all the environments. The fruit yield per plant was higher in two female and five male parents and in sixteen hybrids than average. However, none of the parents and crosses was considered stable. None of the parents or hybrids exhibited average stability for all the characters. Thus, any generalization regarding stability of genotypes for all the characters is too difficult since the genotypes may not simultaneously exhibit uniform responsiveness and stability patterns for all the characters. On the basis of overall yield performance, D-1-87-5 was observed to be highest yielder and deserves merit as high yielding variety for Kharif season. The cross combination HRB-55 x D-1-87-5 can be considered as an elite cross as it was highest yielder across the environments and was also superior with respect to most of the other characters.