Hybrid Vigour and Inbreeding Depression for Fruit Yield and its Components in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Abstract

Heterosis and inbreeding depression was studied in twentyone intervarietal crosses of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) in F₁ and F₂ generation respectively. The manifestation of heterobeltiosis was highest for fruit yield per plant (55.74%) followed" by fruits per plant (40.46%) and fruit length (20.03%). These characters also exhibited very high inbreeding depression in the F₂ generation. Seven crosses exhibited significant positive heterobeltiosis for fruit yield while four crosses viz., IC 18960 x EC 41292, IC 18960 x IC 18974, Round Selection x IC 7194 and EC 68475 x IC 7194 possessed significant positive heterosis over the top ranking parent.