Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in okra biparental progenies

Four biparental and F2, F3 populations of okra were evaluated to ascertain genetic parameters of variability for growth and yield parameters. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters studied. Among the progenies during 2013, less difference between GCV and PCV was observed for plant height, number of branches, number of fruits, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and seed yield per plant suggesting the major contribution of genetic variability towards the total variance, indicating ample scope for improvement for all the populations. All the characters exhibited high heritability with high GAM indicating the predominance of additive gene components. Thus, there is an ample scope for improving the characters through direct selection.