Variability studies among some okra (Abelmoschus esculentus LMoench.) accessions from Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Field experiment was carried out at National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi research field, Niger State, to reveal the variability among some okra accessions. Thirty one accessions of okra were collected from farmers field and two (LD-88 and Nhae-47) collected from the department of crop production, Federal University of Technology Minna. The accessions were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in a plot size of 2m x 1.5m. The experiment was carried out during dry and raining (2014/2015) season. Data were collected on twenty agro-morpholocal traits. Results of the principal component analysis (table 1 and table 2) of the combined seasons for the traits studied showed that the first five principal components accounts for 77.2 % and 89.0 % of the total variations in the population. Single Linkage Cluster Analysis (SLCA) display the accessions in accordance to their similarities level through the aid of dendrogram. SLCA of the combined season showed two major cluster groups that were linked at 65.7% level of similarity. Accessions that showed variability and clustered in different group may be useful for improvement of okra.