ASSESSING HETEROSIS FOR YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS IN OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus)

This study evaluates heterosis, heterobeltiosis, and standard heterosis for yield and key agronomic traits in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) using hybrids from a line × tester mating design to identify superior hybrid combinations for breeding programs. Twenty-one F1 hybrids were developed from seven diverse okra lines and three testers. The hybrids and their parental lines were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the experimental farm of Al Zaeim Al Azhari University, Sudan. Data on pod length, number of pods per plant, pod fresh weight, pod dry weight, dry-to-fresh weight ratio, hundred-seed weight, and yield per plant were collected and analyzed for heterotic effects using standard statistical procedures, including ANOVA and t-tests. Significant variation (p ≤ 0.05) was observed among hybrids and parents for several yield-related traits, confirming the presence of genetic diversity. HSD2543 × Sinnar exhibited the highest heterosis for pod length (+18.77%), while HSD2550 × Sinnar recorded the highest number of pods per plant (+33.33%). HSD1840 × Sinnar showed maximum heterosis for pod dry weight (+57.50%), and HSD1835 × Sinnar demonstrated superior yield per plant (+27.36%). Standard heterosis results reinforced the superiority of these hybrids, particularly those involving the tester Sinnar, suggesting its potential as a dominant genetic contributor in hybrid development. The study highlights the potential of heterosis in enhancing okra yield and yield-related traits. Hybrids involving Sinnar as a parent consistently exhibited superior performance, making them promising candidates for further evaluation and commercialization.