Evaluation of genotypes for growth, yield and yield attributes in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Introduction

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) belongs to the Malvaceae family and is native to tropical Africa, although it may be grown anywhere in the world that is tropical or subtropical (Ali et al. 2012). Due to its tender greens, which are grown all over India in the summer and during the rainy season, it is the most widely consumed edible vegetable (Solankey et al. 2013) [22] . With over 72.9% of the world's okra produced there, India is the world's leading producer. In India, okra is farmed on 523 thousand hectares, accounting for 3.9% of all vegetables produced in the country. Its productivity is 11.90 metric tons per hectare, and its yearly production is 6,416 million tonnes (MoA & FW, 2021-2022) [12] . Telangana produces 83.45 thousand tons of okra annually on 4.01 thousand hectares of land. The states that produce the most okra include Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (MoA & FW, 2022-2023) [13] . Okra fruits can be prepared in a variety of ways in the kitchen. It can be fried in butter or oil or prepared with the necessary ingredients. They can be cut into pieces and served with soup, boiled, or served as a salad. The stem and root of okra are used to filter the cane juice needed to produce brown sugar or gur (Chauhan, 1972) [7] . A large number of seeds per fruit, the high fruit set rate and the ease of setting make it easy to utilize the hybrid vigour of okra for commercial purposes. This plant is frequently crosspollinated; reports of insect cross pollination at rates of 5-9% have resulted in notable genetic diversity (Duggi et al. 2013) [8] .

Materials and Methods

The present investigation was undertaken with a view to estimating the "Mean performance of parents BC 1 Population and F 1 Hybrids over check varieties in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)" The experiment included making sample crosses.

6 elites, optimally divergent and nearly recurrent parents of okra namely IC40289, IC42464, IC42456, IC39136, EC329370 and EC329422 used as female parents and 10 F 1 hybrids IC40289 x Kashi Lalima, IC40289 x Punjab Suhavani, IC42464 x Kashi Lalima, IC42456 x Kashi Lalima, IC42456 x Parbhani Kranthi, IC42456 x Punjab Suhavani, IC39136 x Kashi Lalima, EC329370 x Parbhani Kranthi, EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani, EC329422 x Punjab Suhavani, used as a male parent's resistance to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) disease. The ten selected recurrent parents and 10 F 1 hybrids were grown in separate plots with staggered sowings to ensure synchronization of flowering and each tester is crossed with all the ten lines. The adopted row spacing is 60 cm between rows and 45 cm within each plant. The recurrent parents were back crossed to obtain a 20 BC 1 population during kharif, 2023. Emasculation took place in the late afternoon (4-6.30 P.M.) and pollination took place in the morning (8-10.30 A.M.) The male and female flower buds of okra were selected on the evening before the day of opening. The hybridization program consists of the emasculation of floral buds of female parents, before the day of flower opening. These emasculated flowers and flowers of male parents were then quickly covered by butter paper bags. On the next day morning (8.00 AM to 10.00 AM), the crossing was attempted by gentle rubbing of dehisced anthers of bagged male flowers on the stigma of the emasculated female flowers. The crosses were properly labelled and covered with a fresh paper bag. Simultaneously, both parents were selfed to get pure progeny by covering it with butter paper bags one day before its opening. Harvest from dried fruit after 60-80 days of pollination and preserved in brown paper bags. As and when the individual fruits reached maturity, the crossed seed of each cross combination was gathered separately. The 20 BC 1 Population along with 20 parents [10 L +10 T], 10 F 1 hybrids and Three check varieties (Arka Anamika, CO-4 and PDKV Pragati) (53 treatments) were sown in a randomized block design replicating three times in Rabi, 2023 for evaluation. Five competing plants in each treatment were randomly selected and tagged to record all vegetative and reproductive observations in all three replications. The 21 yield yield and yield attributing traits are., plant height (cm), number of primary branches, Number of leaves per plant, internodal length (cm), days taken to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days taken to first picking, days taken to last picking, number of locules per fruit, number of fruits per plant, fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), number of seeds per fruit, fruit yield per plant (g), fruit yield per plot (kg), fruit yield per hectare(ton), YVMV resistance (%), fiber content(g), chlorophyll content (mg/g FW), iodine content (mg/100 g of fruits) and anthocyanin (mg/100 g of fruits).

Results and Discussion

Mean performance of genotypes

In any selection programme, the mean performance of the genotypes for individual characters serves as an important criterion for discarding the undesirable types. This indicates that germplasm studies may act as a potential source and offer scope for selecting high yielding genotypes with desirable horticultural attributes. The mean performance of genotypes of okra for various fruit yields and its seed quality attributes are described character wise below. Mean performances of fifty three (20 BC 1 , Parents 20 [ 10 L +10 T], 10 F 1 s and standard checks (03) genotypes for the twenty one characters are furnished in Table 1 and Fig no.

The mean value for plant height exhibited a range from 60.22 cm to 77.25 cm with a total mean of 71.21 cm. The genotype IC42456 x Parbhani Kranthi recorded highest plant height (77.25 cm), while the check variety CO-4 had recorded least (60.22cm). Genotypes viz., IC40289 x Kashilalima with (76.99cm), IC42456 x Kashi Lalima (76.93cm) IC42464 x Kashi Lalima (76.48 cm),) were significantly noted maximum in height cm to check variety Arka Anamika., Plant height in okra was also reported by Nirosha et al. (2014) [16] .

Number of primary branches per plant

In fixty three genotypes, the average number of branches per plant is 2.0 with a range from 1.06 in (IC42464 x Kashi Lalima) to 2.80 in (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani),. Followed by other genotypes viz., 2.80 in (EC329370), 2.80 in (EC329422), 2.66 in (EC329370 x (EC329370 x Parbhani Kranthi) and 2.667 in (EC329370 x Parbhani Kranthi). were significantly maximum number recorded when compared to check variety Arka Anamika. Similarly given by Nirosha et al. (2014) [16] .

Number of leaves per plant

The number of leaves per plant ranged from 14.0 lowest number observed in (IC39136 X (IC39136 x Kashi Lalima), highest was observed in check variety Arka Anamika with 20.26 in number and with a total mean of 16.12. Other genotypes followed were (EC329422), 18.46, (EC329422 x Punjab Suhavani) 18.33, CO-4 (Check variety) 18.33, (EC329370) 18.2 and (, EC329370 X Punjab Suhavani) 18.06. were followed significantly maximum with check variety Arka Anamika. Similarly given by Ahamed et al. (2015) [3] , Prajna et al. (2015) [17] .

Internodal length ranged between 4.22 cm (EC329370) which is minimum to 6.14 cm (IC39136 x Kashi Lalima) which is maximum with an average mean value of 5.07 cm. Maximum internal length (6.09 cm) was observed in check variety PDKV Pragati. Genotypes viz., IC42464 x Kashi Lalima 5.99cm, IC42456 x Kashi Lalima 5.88 cm, IC39136 x Kashi Lalima 5.60 were significantly more in internodal length (cm) these noted to be more with check variety Arka Anamika which were found similar in reports of Akotkar and De (2014) [4] , Mahaveer et al. (2010) [11] .

Days taken to first flowering

Days taken to first flowering ranged from 40.33 (IC40289 x Kashi Lalima (selfed)) which is minimum in days to 48.26 (EC329370) which is maximum in days with a total mean of 43.91. Genotypes viz., (IC40289 X Kashi Lalima) 46.80, (IC42456) 46.533, (IC42456 X Punjab Suhavani) 46.46, EC329422 X (EC329422xPunjab Suhavani) 46.06, EC329370 X (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani) 46.0 which were significantly maximum in days taken to first flowering when compared with check variety Arka Anamika., similar were Reported by Adekoya et al. (2014) [1] and Kumari et al. (2017) [9] .

Days taken to 50 percent flowering

The mean value of days taken to 50 percent flowering ranged from 46.86 (IC40289 x Punjab Suhavani) which is less in days to 52.86 (EC329370) which is highest in days and with a total mean of 49.74. Genotypes viz., (IC42456 X Punjab Suhavani) 51.93, (IC40289 X Kashi Lalima) 51.86 (IC42456 X Kashi Lalima) 51.46, (IC40289 X Punjab Suhavani) 51.33, were significantly maximum when compared with check variety Arka Anamika., Similar reports given by Mahaveer et al. (2010) [11] and Adekoya et al. (2014) [1] .

Days taken to first picking

The mean value of days taken to first picking grouped from (EC329422 x Punjab Suhavani) 43.40 which is minimum in days to (EC329370) 50.93 which is maximum in days and with a total mean of 46.78. Genotypes viz., (IC40289 x Kashi Lalima) 49.40, (IC42456 x Punjab Suhavani) 49.33, (IC42456) 49.33, (EC329370 x (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani)) 48.86, (EC329422 x (EC329422 x Punjab Suhavani)) 48.73, were observed to be significantly maximum to check variety Arka Anamika.

Days taken to last pickings

The mean value of days taken to last picking ranged from 71.33 (EC329422 x Punjab Suhavani) which is lowest in days to (EC329370) 93.667 which is highest in days with an average of 88.37. Genotypes viz., 93.467 (IC42456), 93.60 (IC39136 x Kashi Lalima), 93.40 (IC40289 x Kashi Lalima), 93.33 (IC42456 x Punjab Suhavani), were observed to be nonsignificantly maximum to check variety Arka Anamika.

Number of Locules per fruit:

In Fixty three genotypes the number of locules per fruit ranged from 5.0 (IC40289 x (IC40289 x Kashilalima)), which is maximum in number to 7.80 (EC329370) where it is maximum in a number of locules and total mean of 5.48. Followed by genotypes 7.53 (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani), 7.40 (EC329370) 7.26 (EC329370 X (EC329370 xParbhani Kranthi)) were noted to be significantly more in number of locules to check variety Arka Anamika. Similar results are reported by Singh et al. (2016) [21] .

Number of fruits per plant

In Fixty three genotypes the number of fruits per plant grouped from a range of 16 [11] .

Fruit length (cm) measured in the range of 6.63cm (EC329370) which was minimum, to 14.98cm (IC40289 X (IC40289 x Kashilalima)) which was maximum and with a total mean of 11.57 cm. Genotypes viz., 14.70 cm (IC42456 x Kashi Lalima), 14.60cm (EC329422 X (EC329422xPunjab Suhavani)), 14.44 cm (IC42456 x Kashi Lalima), 14.25 cm (IC40289 X (IC40289 x Punjab Suhavani)), these were noted significantly more than check variety Arka Anamika found similar reports were given by Akotkar and De (2014) [4] , Nbeaa et al. (2023) [15] .

The mean value for fruit diameter ranged from 0.83cm (PDKV Pragati) minimum to 1.72cm (EC329370 x (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani) maximum, with a grand mean of 1.28cm. Genotypes viz., 1.66 cm (EC329370 x (EC329370 x Parbhani Kranthi), 1.63 cm (IC40289 x Kashilalima), 1.59 cm (EC329370), 1.55 cm (Arka Anamika) these were significantly maximum in diameter when interpreted to Arka Anamika. similarly repoted by Akotkar and De (2014) [4] .

Number of seeds per fruit

Number of seeds per fruit ranged from 24.1 (IC39136 x Kashi Lalima) which is the minimum to 80.73(EC329370) maximum and a total mean of 46.63. Genotypes viz., 68.93 (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani), 68.60 (EC329370 x (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani), 64.33 (EC329370 x (EC329370 x Parbhani Kranthi) and 63.46 (EC329370) were significantly more in number of seeds per fruits to check variety Arka Anamika. Elucidated similar reports by Adewusi et al. (2013) [2] , Adekoya et al. (2014) [1] 14. Fruit yield per plant (g) Fruit yield per plant (g) was in the range of 141.97g (IC42464 x Kashi Lalima) to 190.13g (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani), with a total mean of 165.52g. Genotypes viz., 189.3g (EC329370 x (EC329370 x Parbhani Kranthi), 188.9g (EC329370 x Parbhani Kranthi), 186.56g (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani), 182.73g (IC42456 x (IC42456 x Parbhani Kranthi)) these were significantly more than check variety Arka Anamika Akotkar and De (2015) [4] , Mahajan et al. (2017) [10] , venkatesh et al.( 2023) [24] and Mahaveer et al. (2010) [11] .

Fruit yield per plot (kg) weighing in the range of 2.98kg (IC42464 x Kashi Lalima) to 3.99kg (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani), with an average of 3.48kg. Genotypes viz., 3.97 kg (EC329370 x (EC329370 x Parbhani Kranthi), 3.91 kg (EC329370 x (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani), 3.84 kg (IC42456 x (IC42456 x Parbhani Kranthi) and 3.80 kg (EC329422 X Punjab Suhavani) were noted to be more significantly interpreted in fruit yield per plant compared to check variety Arka Anamika.

Fruit yield per hectare (ton)

Fruit yield per hectare (ton) weighing in the range of 10.5 tons (IC42464 x Kashi Lalima) which is a minimum of 14.07 tons (EC329422), with a total mean of 12.24 tons. Genotypes viz., 13.32ton (IC42456 x Punjab Suhavani), 13.32ton (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani (selfed), 13.28 ton (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani) x EC329370) and 13.28 (IC42464 x Kashi Lalima) were interpreted more significant to that of check variety Arka Anakmika. Were reported similar by venkatesh et al.(2023) [24] .

YVMV resistance % in the range of 12.8% (Arka anamika) to 52.08% (PDKV pragathi) followed by genotypes 43%(CO-4) check variety, 41.45 (EC329370), 41.2% (IC39136 X (IC39136 x Kashi Lalima)), were non significantly observed with check variety Arka Anamika Seth et al. (2017), Senjam et al. (2018) [19] , Bharathkumar et al. (2019) [6] and Prashanth et al. (2008) [18] .

Fiber content grouped in the range of 0.71g (EC329370) to 2.34g (IC40289 x Punjab Suhavani) with a total mean of 1.18g. Genotypes viz., 1.40g (IC42456 X Kashi Lalima), 1.37 g (IC42456 X (IC42456 x Kashi Lalima)), 1.36g (IC40289 X (IC40289 x Kashilalima)), 1.35g(IC39136 x Kashi Lalima), were significantly more to the check variety Arka Anamika. similar reports were reported by Srivastava et al. (2023) [23] , Nazir et al. (2020) [14] .

Chlorophyll content mg. g/FW range from 0.1025 (IC42464 X (IC42464 x Kashi Lalima)), to 1.88 (IC42456 x (IC42456 x Parbhani Kranthi)) with a total mean of 0.6920. Genotypes viz. 1.8825 (IC42456 X Parbhani Kranthi) 1.48 (Arka Anamika),1.36 (EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani), 0.986 (IC42456 x Punjab Suhavani), 0.985 (CO-4) were noted to be significantly maximum to check variety Arka Anamika similarly given by Akotkar and De (2015) [4] and Srivastava et al. (2023) [23] 20. Iodine content (mg/100g of fruit) Iodine content was calculated to be in the range of 1.230 mg/100g of fruit (IC39136) minimum to 4.60 mg/100g of fruit (IC42456 x Kashi Lalima), maximum with a total mean of 2.48 mg/100g of fruit. Genotypes viz., 3.84 mg/100g of fruit (IC42456 x (IC42456 x Kashi Lalima), 3.73 mg/100g of fruit (IC42456 x Kashi Lalima), 3.61 mg/100g of fruit (IC42464 x (IC42464 x Kashi Lalima) and 3.2 (IC42464 x Kashi Lalima) were significantly maximum with check variety Arka Anamika (2.730). similar reports were given by Srivastava et al. (2023) [23] 21. Anthocyanin (mg/100g of fruits) Anthocyanin content grouping in the range of 0.127 mg/100g of fruits (EC329370), to 15.77 mg/100g of fruits (IC42456 x Kashi Lalima), with a mean of 3.74 mg/100g of fruits. Genotypes viz., 15.63 mg/100g of fruits (IC42456 x Kashi Lalima), 15.58 mg/100g of fruits (IC42456 x Kashi Lalima), 15.50 (IC39136 x Kashi Lalima), these significantly differed with a pair of treatments. Similar reports were given by Srivastava et al. (2023) [23] .

Conclusions

Mean performance of parents BC 1 Population and F 1 Hybrids over check varieties in okra in selection programme, the mean performance of the genotypes for individual characters serves as an important criterion for discarding the undesirable types. This indicates that germplasm studies may act as a potential source and offer scope for selecting high yielding genotypes with desirable attributes. based on per the performance for the yield and yield contributing characters viz., number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per plot (kg), fruit yield per hectare (tonn) of EC329370 x Parbhani Kranthi, EC329370 x Punjab Suhavani, and EC329422 respectively.

Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement.The authors sincerely thank to J. Srinivas, P. Saidaiah , N.Shivaraj, for their kind help in the research work. I am greatly thankful to SKLTGHU, Mulugu, Siddipet, Telangana for providing all the facilities to complete this endeavor.

References

1. Adekoya MA, Ariyo OJ, Kehinde OB, Adegbite AE. Correlation and Path Analyses of Seed Yield in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) Grown Under Different Cropping Seasons. Pertanika J Trop Agric Sci. 2014;37(1):39-49.
2. Adewusi OF, Kehinde OB, Ojo DK. Heritability and Genes Governing Number of Seeds per Pod in West African Okra Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev.) Stevels. J Biol Agric Healthcare. 2013;9(3):45-48.
3. Ahamed KU, Akter B, Ara N, Hossain MF, Moniruzzaman M. Heritability, correlation and path coefficient analysis in fifty-seven okra genotypes. Int J Appl Sci Biotech. 2015;3(1):127-133.
4. Akotkar PK, De DK. Genetic Analysis for Biochemical and Yield Attributes in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). Trends Biosci. 2015;8(8):2085-2090.
5. Ali MI, Khan MA, Rashid A, Javed MT, Sajid M. Epidemiology of Okra Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (OYVMV) and Its Management Through Tracer, Mycotal and Imidacloprid. 2012;3(12).
6. Bharathkumar MV, Dhankhar SK, Dahiya MS, Srikanth M. Genetic Architecture of Resistance to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus Disease in Advanced Lines of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). Indian J Agric Sci. 2019;89(4):640-645.
7. Int J Agric Environ Biotechnol. 2013;6(1):45-50.
8. Kumari M, Solankey SS, Akhtar S, Neha P. Assessment of Genetic Variability and Character Association in Okra Genotypes for Yield and Contributing Characters. J Appl Nat Sci. 2017;9(3):1825-1830.
9. Mahajan RC, Sonawane DJ, Yamgar SV. Estimation of Generation Mean Analysis and Scaling Test for Fruit Yield and Its Attributing Traits in Okra Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2017;6(6):21282135.
10. Mahaveer K, Gangappa E, Satish RG. Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Yield and Yield Components in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). Environ Ecol. 2010;28(4A):2625-2628.
11. Nazir MS, Malik TA, Shakeel A, Ahmad JN. Genetics of Okra Leaf and Agronomic Traits in Upland Cotton. Pak J Agric Sci. 2020;57(1):109-114.
12. Nbeaa RA, Abo-Trabi B, Ahmad E. Phenotypic Correlation and Path Coefficient and Relative Importance Studies in Okra Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. Basrah J Agric Sci. 2023;36(1):50-59.
13. Senjam P, Senapati BK, Chattopadhyay A, Dutta S. Genetic Control of Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus Disease Tolerance in Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. J Genet. 2018;97(1):25-33.
14. Seth T, Chattopadhyay A, Dutta S, Hazra P, Singh B. Genetic Control of Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus Disease in Okra and Its Relationship with Biochemical Parameters. Euphytica. 2017;213:1-13.
15. Singh D, Dudi BS, Meena OP, Dhankhar SK. Determination of Genetic Relationships Among Different Agromorphological Traits in Okra Genotypes. Int J Agric Stat Sci. 2016;12:245-253.
16. Solankey SS, Singh AK, Singh RK. Genetic Expression of Heterosis for Yield and Quality Traits During Different Growing Seasons in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). Indian J Agric Sci. 2013;83(8):17-21.
17. Srivastava M, Kathayat K, Mashkey VK. Performance of Okra Genotypes for Different Quality Parameters. J Food Chem Nanotechnol. 2023;9(S1):S285-S290.