Character Association and Path Analysis for Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) Yield, Fruit Quality and Resistance to Yellow Vein Mosaic

Abstract

Objective: To find the best parents for desirable traits, particularly earliness, yield, and fruit quality, as well as YVMV (Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus) resistance, in order to create novel hybrids or varieties.
 Experimental Design: The experiment was carried out using a randomised block design with three replications.
 Place and Duration of Experiment: The study was conducted in the 2016 kharif seasons at the Department of Horticulture's field experimentation centre at Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.). At 78 metres above mean sea level, this location is situated between 25.87° N latitude and 81.15° E longitude. The experimental area's soils have a sandy to sandy loam texture, are moderately well to well drained, and include a provision for ground water irrigation.
 Methodology: 25 genotypes were collected for this Trail during the 2016 kharif season. To grow the crop, good agricultural methods were used. Plant height (cm), number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, first flowering (in days), 50% flowering (in days), first flowering node, fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), fresh fruit weight (g), number of fruits/plant, fruit yield/plant (g), fruit yield/plot (g), YVMV incidence (%), YVMV severity (%), and crude were the observations to be recorded for five randomly chosen plants from each genotype in each replication To calculate the genetic correlation coefficient analysis, the data were subjected to statistical analysis. The Miller et al. algorithm was used to determine the genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients.
 Results: Based on collected and analysed data, a substantial and positive connection between Days to First Flowering and Days to 50% Flowering (0.94) and between Fruit Weight (g) and Fruit Yield/plant (g) was found (0.91). Demonstrating that okra could experience real improvement thanks to these characteristics. At both the genotypic and phenotypic levels, fruit weight demonstrated the highest beneficial direct impact on fruit yield per plant. The genotype Kashi Satdhari had the lowest YVMV incidence (%), followed by Kashi Vardan (16.38%), whereas 151-10-1-2-3 had the highest YVMV incidence (79.17%), followed by Larem-1 (75.31%).
 Conclusion: A very strong positive and significant correlation was recorded between Days to First Flowering with Days to 50% Flowering and Fruit Weight with Fruit Yield/plant. Negative and significant association of YVMV Incidence % with Fruit Yield/plant (g) indicates that fruit yield/plant decreases with increase in YVMV incidence %.Fruit weight showed maximum positive direct effect on fruit yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level indicating that effective improvement through these characters could be achieved in okra.