ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC VARIATIONS IN OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) GENOTYPES

Abstract

This study evaluated genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for agronomic and yield traits among four okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) genotypes, two landraces (Etighi Abakpa, Etighi Idok) and two exotic varieties (Hire, Clemson). The experiment was conducted during the 2024 cropping season in Calabar, Nigeria, the experiment employed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on emergence and establishment percentages, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, flowering and fruiting traits, and yield (t/ha). Analysis of variance revealed significant (p < 0.05) differences among genotypes for most traits, indicating the presence of genetic variability. Phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were generally higher than genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV), suggesting environmental influence. Heritability estimates ranged from 30% to 99%. High heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean (GAM) were recorded for number of leaves (77.08%; 53.21%), emergence (78.55%; 59.07%), establishment (81.97%; 77.18%), leaf area (81.70%; 54.16%), days to budding (98.68%; 78.15%), days to anthesis (98.83%; 88.00%), days to fruit appearance (99.29%; 74.12%), and days to fruit maturity (99.43%; 69.23%), suggesting additive gene action. Genetic parameters for yield (σ²g, σ²p, GCV, PCV, H², GA, GAM) were zero, indicating no measurable variability. Traits with high heritability and GAM can be effectively utilized in okra improvement programmes