Determination of Genetic Divergence in Okra Genotypes [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

The investigation was executed at Main Experimental Station, Department of Vegetable Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya during Kharif, 2019 in Randomized Block Design with three replications comprising thirty -six genotypes of okra collected from various sources to study the existence of genetic divergence among the germplasm by Mahalanobis D2 statistics. The germplasm was grouped into six clusters. Out of six clusters, cluster 1 contained maximum number of genotypes (22) followed by cluster VI (5), cluster II (3) and cluster III (2) Cluster IV (2) cluster V (2). The minimum intra cluster diversity was found for cluster III (8.39) and maximum intra-cluster distance was exhibited for cluster I (16.95). The highest inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster I and III (30.83) preceded by cluster III and VI (30.15) and cluster 1 and V (24.89), it suggested that the genotypes of these two (cluster I and III) clusters are genetically very dissimilar to each other. The minimum inter-cluster distance was found between cluster IV and V (13.08) followed by cluster III and IV (14.24) and cluster II and IV (14.62). Highest per cent contribution in favour of total genetic diversity was showed by total fruit yields per plant (75.08%) followed by average fruit weight (12.38). Each clusters have higher mean values for different traits and the genotypes of cluster I followed by II and VI have more mean value for traits studies and deserve to be mentioned as important clusters of genotypes which could be use for further yield improvement plan of okra.