Stability analysis in okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is one of the most important vegetable crops grown extensively throughout the country under diverse agroclimatic conditions, which results in fluctuation in its production, one of the constraints in increasing production is the lack of stability of high yielding and widely adapted varieties/hybrids. Varietal adaptation to environmental fluctuations is important for stabilization of the crop production. The study of G x E interaction leads to meaningful evaluation of individual genotype for fruit yield and its components, which could be used in future breeding programmes. Hence, the present investigation was undertaken to study the stability of genotypes for fruit yield and its component traits in okra. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental material comprised of 55 genotypes consisting of 40 F 1 hybrids resulting from a lines x testers mating method involving 10 lines (GO-2, JOL-06-S-2, JOL06-S-3, JOL-06-S-4, JOL-06-S-5, JOL-06-S-6, JOL-06S-7, JOL-06-S-8, JOL-1 and Pant Bhindi) and 4 testers (JOL-06-S-1, Parbhani Kranti, HRB-55 and Pusa Sawani) along with one check variety GO-2. These 55 genotypes were evaluated in Randomized Block Design with three replications over three seasons of sowing i.e. Kharif, 2007 (E 1 ), early summer, 2007 (E 2 ) and late summer, 2007 (E 3 ) representing three environments at Instructional Farm, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat. Individual plot consisted of single row of 3 m length spaced at 45 cm apart with plant-to-plant spacing of 30 cm. All the recommended agronomic practices and plant protection measures were followed timely to raise a good crop. The data were recorded on five randomly selected competitive plants for individual genotype in each replication, in each all three environments for fruit yield and its contributing traits. The stability analysis was done as per method suggested by Eberhart and Russell (1966).