Vol. 11, Issue 1 (2022)

Author(s):
Mritunjay Rai, RK Singh and Vijay Sharma

Abstract:
Genetic divergence of 18 okra genotypes was studied using Mahalanobis D² statistics revealed that considerable genetic diversity among genotypes in okra. Eighteen genotypes were grouped into 5 clusters following Tocher’s method, 3 clusters were polygenotypic (cluster I was the largest cluster with 7 genotypes followed by cluster II with 5 genotypes while, cluster III comprised of 4 genotypes) while remaining two clusters were mono-genotypic for the summer season. Whereas, for rainy season the 18 genotypes were grouped into 5 clusters following Tocher’s method, 3 clusters were poly-genotypic (cluster III was the largest cluster with 6 genotypes followed by cluster I and II both having 5 genotypes) while remaining two clusters were mono-genotypic. Cluster III showed maximum intra cluster D² value followed by cluster II and cluster I. Cluster IV and V were mono-genotypic hence, showed no intra cluster divergence for the summer season. Whereas, for rainy season Cluster III showed maximum intra cluster D² value followed by cluster II and cluster I. Cluster IV and V were mono-genotypic hence, showed no intra cluster divergence. The highest inter cluster divergence was observed between genotypes of cluster I and V, followed by cluster IV vs V and cluster II vs V for the summer season. Whereas, for rainy season the highest inter cluster divergence was observed between genotypes of cluster III and V, followed by cluster I vs III and cluster I vs IV. The character yield (qha^-1) contributed most towards genetic divergence followed by yield plant^-1, fruit diameter, stem girth at 30 DAS and yieldplot^-1 for summer season. Whereas, for rainy season number of fruits plant^-1 contributed most towards genetic divergence followed by yield (qha^-1), yieldplant^-1, leaf area at 60 DAS, leaf area at 30 DAS and number of leaves at 90 DAS. Crosses between the members of clusters separated by high inter cluster distance are likely to produce desirable segregants.