Breeding Investigations in Single and Double Cross F<sub>4</sub> and F<sub>5</sub> Populations of Bhendi [<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the genetic variability, correlation and path analysis in four single cross and three double cross F 4 and F 5 populations of bhendi. The study indicated that double cross populations have reported higher magnitude of variability compared to single cross populations. High variability was observed for number of fruits per plant, plant height, internodal length, fruit weight and fruit yield per plant. Moderate variability for fruit length and fruit diameter and low variability for days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, number of seeds per fruit and 100-seed weight. Phenotypic correlation revealed high positive correlation of fruit yield per plant with number of fruits per plant, number of branches per plant, plant height, fruit weight, fruit length and 100-seed weight. Path analysis depicted high effect on number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, plant height and number of branches per plant with fruit yield per plant. To release importance of fruit yield, direct selection can be practiced for these characters.