Evidence of Economic Heterosis and Genetic Control of Fruit Yield and Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus Disease Severity Traits of Okra

Evidence of Economic Heterosis and Genetic Control of Fruit Yield and Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus Disease Severity Traits of Okra)

Ten diverse genotypes of cultivated and wild species were crossed in half diallel fashion to produce 45 F1 hybrids to determine mode of gene action, extent of economic heterosis and dominance effect, and to estimate combining ability for eight quantitative traits. Predictability ratio revealed overwhelming response of non-additive gene action for controlling fruit length, number of fruits per plant, and fruit yield per plant; additive gene effects for days to 50% flowering, while both additive and non-additive genetic control for node number at first flowering, fruit weight, fruit girth, and PDI of YVMV disease. Appropriate breeding strategies for improvement of studied traits are highlighted here. Significant standard heterosis over two commercial hybrids, Shakti and Abantika was comparatively lower in magnitude for fruit yield per plant (4.62 % and 17.59 %, respectively) and higher in magnitude for PDI of YVMV disease (-71.28 % and -72.28 %, respectively). Partial- to overdominance effects were involved in the inheritance of the studied traits. BCO-1 and 11/RES-6 were identified as potential donors for future use. The study could able to identify an outstanding hybrid (BCO-1 × Arka Anamika) having high tolerance both under field and artificial conditions. This hybrid would definitely make a room in okra growing zones of the tropics after critical testing..