Evidence of Economic Heterosis and Genetic Control of Fruit Yield and Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus Disease Severity Traits of Okra

First Evidence on Heterotic Affinity and Combining Ability of Cultivated Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] Inbred Lines for Tolerance to Enation Leaf Curl Virus Disease

“…On the basis of per se performance, the hybrid 285-1-3A-1-17-1 × VRO-178 exhibited the maximum fruit yield/plant (227.97g/ plant) and low ELCV disease severity ( 11.62%) and the top parent was 285-1-3A-1-17-1 (167.30g/plant yield; 11.70% PDI) which involved 285-1-3A-1-17-1 as one of the parents indicated the involvement of additive gene action for the control of this character. The observation on the extent of heterobeltiosis for these characters was reported by many workers [14,32]. It was found that closely or distantly related parents exhibited low heterosis, but crosses between parents of intermediate divergence classes tended to show higher heterosis for fruit yield and other important traits.…”

“…The preponderance of both additive and non-additive gene action for the control of fruit diameter and fruit yield/plant [26], and number of fruits/plants [27], was also noted. The overwhelming response of non-additive gene action for days to 1 st flowering, days to 50% flowering, node at 1 st flowering, plant height, number of branches/plants, fruit length, and number of fruits/plants [14], was documented. In contrast to the present findings, non-additive genetic control of fruit weight was observed by Das et al [13].…”

“…These two parents could be identified as good general combiners for future use in breeding programme of okra. Significant and positive GCA effects for fruit yield/ plant and number of fruits/plants [13,14], fruit length, fruit diameter and fruit weight [27], were also reported. While, negatively significant GCA effects for days to 1 st flowering [13,14], days to 50% flowering and node at 1 st flowering [14], were also recorded.…”

“…Significant and positive GCA effects for fruit yield/ plant and number of fruits/plants [13,14], fruit length, fruit diameter and fruit weight [27], were also reported. While, negatively significant GCA effects for days to 1 st flowering [13,14], days to 50% flowering and node at 1 st flowering [14], were also recorded. Specific combining ability effects represent dominance and epistatic components of genetic variations which are not fixable but the crosses with high SCA effects involving good general combiner parents can be exploited in future breeding programme.…”

“…Such studies also simultaneously illustrate the nature and magnitude of gene action involved in the expression of desirable traits. Okra offers much scope of improvement through heterosis breeding [13,14], which can further be utilized for the development of desirable recombinants. Diallel [15], is a useful technique for preliminary evaluation of genetic stock for use in hybridization programme with a view to identify good general-as well as specific-combiners.…”