Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Sher-e-Bangla
Agricultural University with twenty eight Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Monech)
genotypes during ‘Kharif’ season (March 2017 to July 2017).Eleven characters were
studied to find out the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance, correlation
coefficient analysis, path coefficient analysis and genetic divergence. The genotypes
varied significantly (p< 0.01) for all of the characters studied. High genotypic and
phenotypic coefficient of variation were observed for primary branches (43.91 and
33.64) and fruit yield per plant (37.51 and 32.48). Accordingly high heritability
accompanied with high genetic advance in percent of mean observed in plant height
(97.32 and 29.98), number of fruits per plant (88.55 and 50.44), fruit yield per plant
(74.99 and 57.94), seed per fruit (73.02 and 34.00) and primary branches (58.70 and
53.10) suggested that these characters would be considered for varietal selection. The
correlation studies revealed that fruit yield per plant showed significant positive
correlation with number. of average fruit weight (0.569 and 0.629) number of fruit per
plant (0.879 and 0.796), plant height (0.699 and 0.618) and significantly negative
correlation with seed per fruit (-0.021 and -0.065) at genotypic and phenotypic level.
These characters would be considered when selection a good variety. Path analysis
revealed days to 50% flowering (0.0070), plant height (0.370), number of fruits per
plant (0.7560), average fruit weight (0.5380) had direct positive effect on pod yield
per plant, indicating these traits are the main contributors to fruit yield per plant. The
studied genotypes were clustered into five groups with highest of inter-cluster
distance between clusters I and V (20.07).This indicates diverse genotypes from these
two clusters, if involved in hybridization may produce a wide spectrum of segregating
population while the lowest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster II and
IV (5.34). The greater divergence in the genotypes due to different morph genic
characters would offer a great scope in okra breeding.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN
GENETICS AND PLANT BREEDING
