A Study of Combining Ability in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) for Growth, Yield, and Quality characteristics

A half-diallel cross among seven okra cultivars and twenty-one hybrids was conducted to examine and analyze the general (G.C.A) and specific (S.C.A) combining ability effects and genetics related to multiple yield and yield-related characteristics. The analysis study of variance showed the existence of both additives G.C.A and non-additive effects for all characters with the exception of pod length, which exhibited an additive effect G.C.A, thereby suggesting the predominant role of additive genetic variance in the expression of these traits. Only one hybrid ‘Emerald’ x‘Pusa Sawani’ showed significant positive S.C.A effects on the number of green pods/plants, weight of green pods/plant, and total green pod yield. Based on G.C.A effects, the parent ‘Pusa Sawani’ was a good general combiner for days to 50% flowering, plant height, green pod length, number of green pods/plant, weight of green pods/plant and total green pod yield characters and can be used in breeding programs for improvement of the fruit yield and other yield components characters