ABSTRACT
Okra is a traditional vegetable crop in northwestern Ethiopia but it has not given research attention and considered a minor crop. Thus, this study was conducted to characterize and evaluate okra landraces and to estimate genotypic, phenotypic variability and genetic divergence and to estimate heritability and genetic advance under selection, degree of genotypic and phenotypic associations among yield and yield associated traits. A total of 35 okra landraces from three districts (Guba, Mandura and Dangure) were evaluated for 21 agro-morphological traits in 2017 at Pawe Agricultural Research Center in randomized complete block design. Results of analysis of variance showed significant differences among okra landraces for all traits and the landraces also distributed in different categories of qualitative traits. The landraces had number of tender fruits per plant ranged from 4.86 to 36.54 and 2.49 to 21.98 t ha-1 mean fruit yield per hectare. The estimates of genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) for 22 traits of 35 okra landraces were in the range between 2.95 and 54.92 and 4.96 and 55.22%, respectively. Fruit yield per hectare had positive and significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients with weight of matured pods per plant, dry weight of matured pods per plant, hundred seed weight, number of tender fruits per plant and leaf length. Fruit yield per hectare had positive and significant phenotypic correlation coefficients with number of ridge and peduncle length. These traits also had positive direct effects on fruit yield at genotypic and phenotypic levels except leaf length exerted negative direct effect on yield at phenotypic level. This suggested direct and simultaneous selection of genotypes for yield and these traits is possible. The study results showed the presence of genetic variation among landraces for all traits suggested that selection could be effective to develop okra varieties for high fruit yield and other traits.
Support the magazine and subscribe to the content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
