Evaluating genotypes for combining ability through diallel analysis in okra over different environments

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate combining ability of eight genetically divergent parental strains of okra by diallel analysis (excluding reciprocals) with respect to fruit yield and its components. The combining ability analysis revealed significant mean sum of squares due to both, general combining ability (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) for fruit yield and its component traits. The ratio of gca : sca indicated predominance of non-additive gene action for all the characters. The parents JOL-09-7, JOL-09-8 and JOL-08-16 were good general combiners for yield and most of the yield contributing characters. Among the crosses JOL-09-7 x JOL-55-3, JOL-09-8 x JOL-08-16 and AOL-09-17 x AOL-09-13 showed significant and high sca effects for fruit yield per plant and most of the yield contributing characters.

Keywords

• diallel analysis
• general combining ability
• specific combining ability and okra