VARIATION AND CORRELATION OF SEED PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SUDANESE OKRA LINES (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS (L.) MOENCH.)

Abstract

Fifteen collections of okra accession were examined for seed physico-chemical properties. Basic seed physical parameters such as seed length, seed width, seed thickness and hundred-seed weight were examined. Chemical parameters such as crude oil%, protein %, fibre, Moisture content%, ash %, calcium mg/100g and carbohydrates were measured and analysed as per recommended methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Line HSD4899 was identified for best performance for Hundred-seed weight (g) and ash %; Line HSD5021 was identifies as the best performer for carbohydrate %; Line HSD5017 was identified for seed thickness (mm), seed width (mm) and fibre %; HSD6655 were identified for seed thickness (mm), crude oil content % and calcium mg/100g; and line HSD5024 was identified for high protein content. Seed length( mm), seed thickness (mm), seed width (mm), hundred-seed weight (g), sphericity ratio, moisture %, and ash % recorded high heritability estimates and coupled with a high genotypic coefficient of variation suggesting that these traits are under the influence of genetic control and less affected by the environment. Considerable progress can be achieved using phenotypic selection on these traits. Crude protein content has a significant but weak negative correlation with seed width and a moderate negative genotypic correlation with hundred-seed weight. Protein content recorded a significantly moderate negative genotypic