Combining ability studies in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] for fruit yield and yield contributing characters

The present investigation was conducted by crossing 8 x 8 genotypes of Okra in half diallel fashion collected from NBPGR, New Delhi. The study was carried out to assess the general combing ability and specific combing ability from parents and cross combinations. The analysis of variance revealed that mean squares due to genotypes, due to parents and due to hybrids, parent’s vs hybrids were found to be significant for all the character under study. The magnitude of GCA variances was higher than SCA variances indicating that additive gene action was predominant expression of all the characters. Among the twenty eight cross combinations as many as sixteen crosses exhibited positively significant SCA effect for fruit yield per plant.