Genetic variation among biparental progenies in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench)] using coefficient of racial likeness and Mahalanobis D2 statistics

Abstract

A study was carried out in Nigeria to determine the extent of genetic variation within a biparental population in okra. Sixteen crosses were made and evaluated with nine parents in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Observations were made on important agronomic traits including pod yield. Data collected were subjected to Coefficient of Racial Likeness (CRL) and Mahalanobis D2 statistic and dendrogram was constructed. The maximum CRL distance (24.70) was between NGB00347 x NGB00350 and NGB00371 x NGB00326 while the largest Mahalanobis D2 distance (216.34) was between NGB00302 and NGB00356. The twenty-five genotypes were grouped into six clusters based on CRL while Mahalanobis D2 statistic identified four clusters. The NGB00297 x NGB00326 in cluster 6 had earliness to flowering, longest pod, heaviest pod, widest pods, the highest number of pod/plant and yield/plant. The genotype would be useful in the future development program in okra breeding.

Keywords

• clusters
• okra
• pod yield