Genetic variability, correlations and path coefficient analysis in okra under Kashmir conditions

摘要

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] is one of the important vegetable crops grown for its tender green fruits during summer seasons in Kashmir valley. It has high nutritive value and export potential. To improve the yield and other characters,information on genetic variability and inter-relationship among different traits is necessary. The improvement in any crop is proportional to the magnitude of its genetic variability present in the germplasm (Dhankhar and Dhankhar, 5). High heritabilityalone is not enough to make efficient selection in segregating generation, unless the information is accompanied for substantial amount of genetic advance (Johnson et al., 7). Yield, which is a dependent character, is the resultant effect of a number ofcomponent characters, but direct selection for yield is often misleading and hence knowledge of inter-relationship between pairs of these characters and yield is essential to bring a rational improvement in the desirable traits. Further, path coefficientanalysis is helpful in partitioning the observed correlation coefficient in to direct and indirect effects and their effective use in selection programme. Keeping this in view, the present investigation was aimed at assessing the genetic variability, association of different characters and to study the path coefficient analysis for yield improvement in okra.