Multivariate Analysis of Genetic Diversity Among Okra (Abelmoschus spp.) Cultivars Grown in Côte d’Ivoire Based on Agro-morphological Traits

Abstract

Crop improvement for sustainable agriculture requires information about the genetic variability of traits that helps identify suitable parents. This study was conducted to investigate the extent of genetic diversity among 12 okra cultivars grown and marketed in Côte d'Ivoire, using 12 quantitative and 11 qualitative agro-morphological traits. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five replications and two multivariate techniques, viz. principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used. The okra cultivars evaluated showed wide variation in quantitative traits but minimal variation in qualitative traits except for leaf and fruit shapes. The first two PCs explained 70.489% variation and identify seven traits (day to flowering, stem diameter, plant height, number of fruit ridges, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield and number of seeds per fruit) that play a prominent role in the differentiation of the okra cultivars, and therefore could be used as good criteria for selection in okra improvement. PCA and CA grouped the total cultivars into three divergent clusters exhibiting specific characteristics: vigor and good yield for cluster I, short plants and earliness for cluster II and high yield for cluster III. The results of this investigation indicated that substantial variability was present in the okra studied. The cultivars of the divergent clusters constitute interesting okra genetic resources that can be used as a parental material for further breeding.