Agro morphological Characterization and Evaluation of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] Genotypes for Yield and Other Variability Components at Melkassa, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L).Moench] is one of indigenous and endemic genetic resource of Ethiopia as well as Benishangul Gumuz, but only few studies were carried out to assess its diversity and performance throughout the country and specifically no research conducted to assess diversity of okra within regional state. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objective of assess the genetic divergence and estimate the genetic variability components in okra genotypes collected from regional state. A total of 36 genotypes were evaluated of which 33okra genotypes were collected from different areas of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, 3(three) checks, of 2 introduced and 1(one) released were evaluated for 27 quantitative traits at MARC in year 2018/19 using simple lattice design (6x6). The results from analysis of variance revealed that the presence of significant variation for all quantitative traits except 3 traits. Moreover, the variation of genotypes for fruit yield per hectare ranged from 9.44 to 32.88ton/ha-1 with mean 19.59ton/ha-1 for genotypes 29620 and 29618, respectively. Most of genotypes had high mean performance as compared to checks for majority of traits. The genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) coefficient of variation showed within range of 6.3 to 54.19% and 9.19 to 55.51%, respectively. Heritability in broad sense (H2) and genetic advance as percent of mean (GAM) had ranged from 43.46 to 97.34% and 9.16 to 109.14%, respectively. The variability components (GCV, PCV, H2 and GAM) were high for all traits except few traits like days to 90% maturity, hundred seed weight low in PCV and GCV. Number of ridge and hundred seed weight showed moderate H2 whereas days to 90% maturity, number of ridge and percentage of mucilage content had moderate GAM and low for hundred seed weight. The result observed in this study was the presence of a wide genetic variation among genotypes collected from Benishangul Gumuz Regional State.