Genetic evaluation of induced mutants of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) for various yield related traits

The current study was carried out in order to determine the extent of genetic diversity for both quantitative and quality traits in the okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) mutants.The experiment material contained 25 mutants, six checks including parent variety P-8 and one inbred line 9801 that were evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) during summer-rainy season, 2020. Data were gathered on the days to first picking, days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height (cm), number of primary branches per plant, duration of availability of edible pods (days), node at which first pod set, nodes per plant, internodal length (cm), pod length (cm), pod diameter (cm), average pod weight (g), pods per plant, pod yield per plant (g), mucilage (%) and dry matter (%). According to analysis of variance, significant differences were present between the mutants for all quantitative and quality traits. Among all, mutants 16/3 (244.90 g) followed by 29/2 (237.94 g), 6/1 (231.51 g), 22/4 (218.47 g) and 24/7 (202.04 g) were the highest yielders. These top yielding mutants also excelled in various component traits viz., nodes per plant, internodal length, node at which first pod set and pods per plant. Indicating the impact of environmental influences on the expression of the characteristics under study, the estimates of GCV were somewhat lower than the corresponding PCV. Primary branches per plant, mucilage content, node at which first pods set and internodal length showed the highest values of PCV and GCV, indicating significant variability. For primary branches per plant, mucilage content, pod production per plant and internodal length, strong heritability and high genetic advancement were noted, highlighting the significance of additive gene action. Hence, direct selection could be used to improve these characters. Non-additive gene action was indicated by low heritability linked with low genetic advance for dry matter and average pod weight as a result, low genetic gain is expected from selection in such a situation.