Varietal performance and correlation of okra pod yield and yield components
Abstract Field irrigation experiments were conducted to assess the varietal performance and correlation of pod yield and yield attributes under irrigation at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, during the 2015 and 2016 dry seasons. The results revealed that the most outstanding for fresh pod yield per plant were okra cultivar Kwadag Y’ar gagure Salkade, and Kwadam, in descending order, with yield ranging from 580.38 to 622.67 g, while the Composite cultivar had the lowest value of pod yield of 428.62 g over the two years. The greatest average values for the number of pods per plant and the number of primary branches per plant were observed for Salkade and Y’ar gagure, respectively. Highest fresh pod length and fresh pod diameter were also exhibited for Salkade and Kwadag. The genotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the phenotypic variation for the entire yield-contributing characters. Days to 50% flowering were positive and highly significant differences associated with plant height, number of pods per plant, and fresh weight per pod could be observed. Path coefficient analysis showed that the number of pods per plant exhibited positive and direct influence on the pod yield across the studied years. Indirect influence of other yield components through this character also contributed mainly towards pod yield. Therefore, days to 50% flowering, plant height, pod length, number of pods per plant, pod diameter, number of primary branches per plant, and fresh weight per pod could be taken into consideration for the selection and development of high pod-yielding varieties in okra.
Genetic variability and trait correlation studies in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]
Okra fruit/pod is one of the widely consumed vegetable in sub-tropical part of the world. In Nigeria, there are several yield and production challenges involving the cultivation of poor genotypes. In this study, field trials were carried out for local Okra cultivar in two locations within the Savannah agro ecological zone of Nigeria during the 2011/2012 cropping season to evaluate the extend of variability and character association in some selected quantitative traits. The result reveals wide variability in some yield traits, with growth contributing factors playing significant role within the two locations. A strong genotype-environment interaction affecting the yield performance of the local cultivar was also observed.
Correlation and path analysis in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]
Correlation and path analysis were carried out in 69 okra genotypes using growth, earliness and yield traits. The results indicated the inverse relationship between growth and earliness characters but strong association between growth and yield characters. Total yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, number of nodes on main stem, fruit length, plant height at 60 and 100 days after sowing (DAS) and number of leaves on 45 and 100, whereas, total yield per plant had negative and significant association with number of locules per fruit, number of nodes at first flowering and first fruiting. Path analysis revealed that average fruit weight, number of nodes on main stem and number of fruits per plant had high direct effect on total yield per plant. Hence, direct selection for average fruit weight and number of fruits per plant is suggested for getting yield improvement.