Study of heterosis over environments for fruit yield and its related traits in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Okra, being an often cross-pollinated crop, responds well to heterosis breeding. Exploitation of heterosis is primarily dependent on the screening and selection of available germplasm that could be produced by better combinations of important agronomic characters. An experiment was carried out in kharif 2018 to estimate standard heterosis for yield and its contributing traits using 55 hybrids developed through line x tester design were evaluated at three different locations at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) with commercial check ‘OH 102’. Appreciable heterosis was found over commercial check for all the traits studied in desirable direction. Among 55 hybirds, JOL-14-10 x Arka Abhay, JOL-14-10 x GJO-3, JOL-13-05 x GJI-03 at Navsari, Achhalia and Vyara, respectively exhibited higher but non-significant standard heterosis for fruit yield. The other crosses exhibited desirable but non-significant standard heterosis for fruit yield and other component traits suggested that there is no scope of exploiting heterosis commercially, but possibility of isolating desirable segregants among these hybrid combinations.