Selection of parents based on combining ability studies in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.]

摘要

Combining abililty effects were estimated for different characters in a line x tester crossing programme comprising 120 crosses produced by crossing of 40 lines and 3 testers. Parents and hybrids differed significantly for GCA and SCA effects, respectively. Magnitude of specific combining ability (SCA) variance was higher than the general combining ability (GCA) variance. This shows the predominance of non-additive gene action for all the characters, which indicated the scope for heterosis breeding in crop improvement in okra. Majority of cross combinations recorded high SCA effects and per se performance due to low x low, low x high or high x low parental GCA status. The line 13 was found to be the good general combiner for the characters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per hectare followed by the lines 5, 25 and 38. The tester Parbhani Kranthi was found to be the good general combiner followed by Pusa Sawani. The hybrids 38 x 3, 3 x 1 and 13 x 3 had higher significant SCA effects for fruit yield and its component characters like days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of branches per plant, intermodal length, fruit length, fruit diameter, test weight, fruit weight and number of fruits per plant.