ChileanJAR

The study of heterosis would help in selection of heterotic crosses for commercial exploitation of F₁ hybrids in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). Forty five F₁s were developed by crossing 10 elite lines of okra: P₁ IC282248), P₂(IC27826-A), P₃ (IC29119-B), P₄ (IC31398-A), P₅ (IC45732), P₆ (IC89819), P₇ (IC89976), P₈(IC90107), P₉ (IC99716), and P₁₀ (IC111443), in half diallel fashion during summer 2009. All 45 F₁s along with their 10 parents and one standard control (Mahyco Hybrid N° 10) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replicates during early kharif (June to September) 2009 at the Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar, Andhra Pradesh, India, for heterosis of yield and its components of okra. Significance of mean squares due to genotypes revealed the presence of considerable genetic variability among the material studied for almost all yield and yield attributes except plant height. The overall mean heterosis over mid parent and standard control for total yield per plant was 6.92 and -15.44%, respectively, while for marketable yield per plant were 6.64 and -22.18%, respectively. Negatively heterotic crosses like C₁₉ (P₃×P₅) for days to 50% flowering (-4.35%) and C₄(P₁×P₅) for first flowering and fruiting nodes (-15.22%), respectively, are important to exploit heterosis for earliness in okra. The crosses with non-significant standard heterosis in any given direction for total yield per plant C₄₂, C₃₁, C₃₅, C₂₅, and C₃₆ (8.63, -0.08, -2.61, -3.26, and -4.57%, respectively) and marketable yield per plant C₄₂, C₃₁, and C₃₆ (-5.87, -6.56, and -10.54%, respectively), were statistically on par with the standard control in their mean performance and are found to be as promising as that of the standard control. The F₁ hybrid C₄₂(P₇×P₁₀) with high yield potential has the potential for commercial cultivation after further evaluation for early kharif season.