​Studies on Interrelationship and Path Coefficient Analysis in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench

Abstract

Background: Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench] is an important vegetable crop widely grown in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Okra is high yielding crop under a good cropping system. However, its yield potential has been grossly affected by poor cropping system, use of crude implement, poor soil and insect pest infestation. For improving okra through conventional breeding and selection, it is essential to have adequate knowledge of association that exists between yield and yield related characters for the identification of selection procedure. The knowledge of such mutual relationship between fruit yield and its contributing components can significantly improve the efficiency of a breeding programme through the use of appropriate selection indices. Methods: A study of correlation and path analysis was undertaken in 18 genotypes of okra for fruit yield and its component traits at Vegetable Research Centre, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, (U.P) during summer and rainy season-2019. Result: It was observed that during summer season fruit yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with leaf area, number of primary branches per plant and number of fruits per plant and in rainy season plant height, number of nodes and number of fruits per plant showed positive and significant association with fruit yield per plant at genotypic and phenotypic level. During both the season it was observed that estimates of genotypic correlation coefficients were in most cases higher than their corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients. In the present study during summer season leaf area (0.760) had maximum direct contribution towards fruit yield per plant followed by number of fruits per plant (0.447). However, days to opening first flower exhibited highest negative direct effect (-1.109). During rainy season leaf area (3.274) had maximum direct contribution towards fruit yield followed by days to opening first flower (2.828). However, days to first harvesting (-4.630) exhibited highest negative direct effect. The study suggested that the improvement in yield per plant will be efficient if the selection is based on leaf area, number of fruits per plant, plant height, number of branches per plant and number of nodes per plant.