Phenotypic variability of okra hybrids for agronomic and fruit-related traits under natural insect infestation across two consecutive crop cycles

Insects constitute a major constraint to okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) productivity and good quality fruit. This study investigated the level of phenotypic variability in elite single-cross hybrids for agronomic and fruit-related traits under natural insect infestation. The hybrids were evaluated twice starting in May and November 2021, at the Lagos State Polytechnic (Now Lagos State University of Science and Technology), Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. Data were subjected to combined analysis of variance, and principal component analysis. There were differences among hybrids due to genotype and/or cropping cycle and/or interaction, for all measured traits. Hybrid ‘Yeleen × Clemson’ Spineless was promising for tolerance/resistance to insect infestation; the reciprocal hybrid, ‘Clemson Spineless × Yeleen’, was promising for high pod yield. Phenotypic variance values were higher than other variances for all the traits while genotypic variances were higher than the interaction for most traits. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation estimates indicated minimal influence of cropping cycle on the measured traits. Broad-sense heritability values were high for all traits. All traits showed high scores in at least one principal component, indicating their contributions to variation. The low-yielding hybrid, ‘Yeleen × Clemson Spineless’, identified for tolerance/resistance to insects could be improved for pod yield, while the high-yielding ‘Ejigbo × Iwo Nla’ and ‘Ejigbo × Clemson Spineless’ could be improved for tolerance/resistance