Journal of Biotechnology

and Crop Science

6(8): 73-81, 2017

Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in bhindi (Abelmoschus

esculentus (L.) Monech)
RK Sharma, Ravi Shankar Singh, Arun Kumar
Received: 25 April 2017 Revised Accepted: 23 June 2017

ABSTRACT
Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in Bhindi were studied involving twenty five genotypes for twelve
characters in order to evolve a suitable breeding methodology for its genetic improvement. The data showed the high
significant differences for all the characters except fruit diameter and fruit weight were observed in all the genotypes. The
highest (0.48 kg-1.00 kg) and the lowest (1.95 cm-2.23 cm) range of variability were exhibited by early yield and fruit
diameter, respectively. A wide range of phenotypic as well as genotypic variability was recorded for plant height and
1000 seeds weight. The maximum range was obtained for plant height and minimum for early yield. Genotypic variance
as percentage of phenotypic variance was the maximum (90.854%) for plant height and the minimum (0.463%) in case of
fruit diameter. The maximum environmental variance (16.470) was obtained for plant height. Total yield, number of fruit
per plant, number of branches per plant, plant height, and days from flowering to fruit set, days from fruit set to first
harvest and early yield had high genotypic coefficient of variation. The high heritability with high genetic gain was
obtained in plant height followed by 1000 seeds weight. The present study led to the identification of characters helpful in
selection of suitable genotypes for future breeding programme viz; fruit weight, number of branches per plant, plant
height and number of fruits per plant, which also had high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, high
heritability together with high genetic advance.

Key Words: Abelmoschus esculentus, Bhindi, GCV, Genetic gain, Genetic advance, Heritability, PCV

INTRODUCTION

Bhindi or okra Abelmoschus esculentus (L)
Moencoh (family Malvaceae) is annual vegetable
crop widely cultivated worldwide from tropical to
subtropical region of the world including countries
like India, Africa, Turkey vegetable. One of the
worlds oldest cultivated crops, first recorded
reference dates back to 1216 A.D by the Egyptians,
while Vavilov indicated that there was strong
RK Sharma
Department of Horticulture (Vegetables & Floriculture), Bihar
Agriculture College (BAU), Sabour-813 210
Ravi Shankar Singh ( )
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Bihar Agriculture
College (BAU), Sabour-813 210
Email: ravi.molbio@gmail.com
Arun Kumar
Directorate of Planning, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour,
Bhagalpur- 813 210 Bihar
evidence that the crop flourished even before that
date in the tropical climate of Ethiopia, while others
have identified its origin as India (Lamont Jr. 1999).
The chromosome number of Bhindi was reported to
be 2n = 130 (Joshi and Hardas 1956) and largely a
self pollinated crop, and occurrence of out crossing
to an extent of 4-19 percent by insects. Bhindi
usually consumed as vegetables, salads and soups,
its mucilage has medicinal applications as well when
used as a plasma replacement or in detoxification by
binding to cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins
(as reviewed by Gemede et al 2015). Bhindi is
enriched with vitamins and minerals including
vitamin A, B and C, calcium, iron and excellent
source of Iodine (Cook et al 2000, Chadha 2001). It
is important to identify the promising varieties and
exploit hybrid vigour. Genetic variability available
in breeding material is of utmost importance to start

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any breeding programme, since selection effective
for heritable variability in a population. The
breeders choice of the material for any
improvement work consequently depends on the
amount of genetic variability present. The phenotype
is often not true indicator of its genotype. The
phenotypic variability is the result of the effect of
environment and genotype interaction. Yield is a
quantitative character governed by polygene and
influenced greatly external cues. Attempts have been
made to determine the magnitude of heritable and
non-heritable components and genetic parameters
such as genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of
variation, heritability and genetic advance as
percentage of mean in some of the quantitative
characters of okra. Joshi (2004) conducted a study
on variability components of okra and estimated that
almost all the characters are highly heritable and
they are easily amenable to selection. Enhancing
yield of pod is one of the most important goals of
Bhindi improvement program. In Bhindi, besides
yield associated traits, growth and earliness are also
quantitative in nature and controlled by polygenes
and much influenced by environmental cues. In
general, plant breeders commonly select for yield
components which indirectly increase yield since
direct selection for yield per se may not be the most
efficient method for its improvement. Indirect
selection for other yield-related characters, which
are closely associated with yield, will be more
effective. The appropriate knowledge of such
interrelationships between pod yield and its
contributing components can significantly improve
the efficiency of a breeding program through the use
of appropriate selection indices. An understanding of
precise magnitude of variability present in a
population is important in formulating the most
suitable breeding programme for improvement of
various traits. In the present study, the genetic
variability, heritability and genetic advance in
Bhindi was analysed to select the suitable genotypes
for future breeding programme.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present investigations entitled Genetic
variability and path analysis in Bhindi was
undertaken in the Department of Horticulture
(Vegetable & Floriculture), at the Bihar Agriculture
College, Sabour. The genotypes/lines used in the
present study are listed in Table 1. The other
material consisting of field implements and tools
farm yard manures, plant protections chemicals, pan-
balance, and meter scale slide calliper, etc were
utilized as when necessary. The experimental plot
was ploughed and cross ploughed four times,
followed by planking. First ploughing was given by
mould bold plough and the rest by desi plough.
Weeds, root stubbles and other crop residues were
removed by harrowing and the land was properly
levelled. Organic manure in the form of rotten farm
yard manners @ 250 Q/ha was applied at the time of
last ploughing.

Table 1 The plant materials used in the present study.

Genotypes/Lines Symbol Sl. No Genotypes/Lines Symbol
Pusa Sawani T1 14. Sel-4 T14
VaishaliVadhu T2 15. 79-2 T15
PBN -57 T3 16. 86-1 T16
AROH-1 T4 17. Sel-8 T17
71-38 T5 18. KS-312 T18
Pusa Makhamali T6 19. B.O.-2 T19
N.D.O.-25 T7 20. B.O.-1 T20
71-12 T8 21. Sel-2 T21
86-2 T9 22. 79-7 T22
71-3 T10 23. 81-1 T23
71-36 T11 24. Sel-7 T24
71-14 T12 25. Sel-10 T25
Punjab Padmini T13

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The experiment was statistically laid out in the field
adopting randomized block design with 25
treatments, replicated thrice. The plot size comprised
of the double rows of 1.50 meters lengths and 1.20
meters breadth. Each treatment was allocated to
individual plot with the help of random table. Ten
plants were kept in each plot at the spacing of 60 cm
from row to row and 30 cm from plant to plant.
Statistical analysis: The experimental data for
various characters detailed in Table 2 was recorded
and subjected to statistical analysis using suitable
technique for different characters. The technique of
analysis of various for Randomised Block Design
was adopted, as suggested by Fisher (1948) and
Panse and Sukhatme (1967). The phenotypic and
genotypic variance was calculated method as
suggested by Comstock and Robinson (1952).
Phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation
were calculated according to formula suggested by
Burton (1952). Heritability (H) in broad sense (Lush,
1949) being the ratio of genotypic variance to
phenotypic variance was calculated as per formula
suggested by Burton and De-vane (1953).The
expected genetic advance was computed with the
help of the formula suggested by Lush (1949),
Burton and De-vane (1953) and Johnson et al.
(1955). Phenotypic covariance was calculated by
adding mean sum of product at error level to the
genotypic covariance as suggested by Pillai and
Singh (1968).
RESULTS
Performance of different genotypes with regards to
important characters viz., plant height, number of
branches per plant, number of days taken from
sowing to first flowering, number of days taken in
fruit set, number of days taken from fruit set to first
harvest, number of fruits per plant, fruit length,

Table 2 List of different plant characters for which observations recorded in the present study.
Plant characters Description
Plant height Observation on ultimate height was measured two times with the help of a meter scale the
measurement was recorded in centimetre in terms of vertical distance from ground level to
tip of the plant.
Number of branches per The number of branches was recorded two times at the pick fruiting stage.
plant
Days to flower The number of days taken from sowing of seeds to the day when 50 percent of the plants in
each plot came into bloom was recorded as time in flowering
Days to fruit Set The number of days required for fruit set after flowering was recorded in each line in each
replication.
Days taken from fruit set The number days taken from fruit set to first harvest was recorded in each treatment and in
to first harvest each replication
Number of fruit per plant The number of picked up fruits from each plant in each replication was recorded at every
harvest and pooled to compute the total number of fruits per plant
Fruit length (cm) Ten randomly selected fruits were measured for their length at edible maturity with the
help of metre scale and recorded in centimetre.
Fruit diameter (cm) The diameter of ten randomly selected fruits was measured at edible maturity with the help
of a slide calliper and recorded in centimetre.
Fruit weight (g) The fruit selected for measurement of length and diameter were utilised for this purpose. The
average weight of fruit in each treatment was recorded in gram
Early yield (Kg) This represented the yield obtained from first 10 pickings. The yields of all the three
replicates of treatment in first 10 pickings were noted and average gave the early yield 10
plants.
Total yield (Kg) Total yield of all the harvests was considered for 10 plants for a particular treatment and
recorded in Kg.
1000 seeds weight (g) Seeds were collected from fully ripe fruits and dried 2-3 days in sun light. 1000 seeds were
counted and weight was taken with the help of salter pan balance and recorded in gram.

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fruit diameter, fruit weight, early yield, total yield
and weight of 1000 seeds were analysed in the
present study. In order to assess the variability in
Bhindi the following aspects were studied, analysis
of variance, range of variation, mean performance,
phenotypic variability, genotypic variability,
genotypic variance as percentage of phenotypic
variance, environmental variance, environmental
variance as percentage of phenotypic variance,
coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of
variation, genotypic coefficient of variation,
heritability and genetic advance.
The range and mean for different yield components
of Bhindi have been presented in Table 3. It was
quite interesting to note that most of the characters
exhibited a wide range of variation. It further
indicated that early yield had the maximum range of
variation from 0.48 Kg to 1.00 Kg followed by total
yield (0.97 Kg to 1.94 Kg), number of branches per
plant. (2.19 to 4.77), number of fruits per plant (9.42
- 18.22) and number of days taken in fruit set (2.54 -
4.07 days). The lowest range of variation was
recorded for fruit diameter (1.95cm - 2.23cm).
However, other characters like plant height, number
of days taken from sowing to first flowering, number
of days taken from fruit set to first harvest, fruit
length, fruit weight, early yield, weight of 1000
seeds weight ranged from 60.35cm 103.06cm, 38.30
days - 47.15 days; 5.06 days - 6.83 days, 10.49cm -
16.64cm, 9.66g - 11.06g, 0.48Kg - 1.00 Kg and
38.93g - 55.75g, respectively.
The data on mean of different genotypes/lines for
twelve quantitative characters have been presented
in Table 4. The perusal of data revealed that
maximum plant height (103.06 cm) was recorded in
genotype PBN-57 and the minimum in case of Pusa
Makhamali (60.35 cm).Genotypes 71-1(98.52 cm),
Sel -7 98.01 cm), 72-1(96.00 cm), 86-2 (95.57 cm),
79-7 (95.15 cm), D.O.-25 (94.99 cm), 86-1 (94.95
cm), Vaishali Vadhu (94.82 cm) and Punjab Padmini
(94.80 cm) did not differ among themselves. The
data regarding to number of branches per plant have
been presented in Table 3 and 4. A perusal of data
indicated that lumber of branches per plant ranged
from 2.19 in genotype 36-1 to 4.77 in 86-2. The
analysis of variance revealed that genotypes Pusa
Sawani (3.95), PBN-57(3.95), N.D.0.-25(3.95), 79-
2(3.94), Vaishali Vadhu (3.90), Se1-4(3.90), B.0.-
1(3.90) were statistically at par. The data pertaining
to number of days taken from sowing to first
flowering indicated maximum days taken from
sowing to first flowering was 47.15 days for
genotype Vaishali Vadhu, which was at par with 71-
36 (46.58 days), Se1-8 (45.11 days), Pusa
Makhamali (45.10 days), AROH-1 (45.06 days),
Punjab Padmini (44.46 days), KS-312(44.46 days),
86-2(43.38 days) and 79-7(43.35 days). The lowest
number of days taken from sowing to first flowering
(38.30 days) was recorded in case of B.O.-1.
The data concerning number of days taken from
flowering to first fruit set ranged from 2.54 to 4.07
days. The maximum number of days taken from
flowering to first fruit set was observed in genotype
N.D.O.-25 (4.07 days) followed by 71-3 (4.06 days),
79-7 (4.06 days) and 81-1 (4.05 days). The
minimum number of days taken from flowering to
first fruit-set was noted in both genotypes AROH-1
and 79-2 (2.54 days). The data scrutiny in respect of
number of days taken from fruit set to first harvest
revealed that the number of days taken from fruit set
to first harvest ranged from 5.06 days to 6.83 days.
The highest number of days taken from fruit set first
harvest was recorded in genotypes Pusa Sawani and
71-3 (6.83 days). The minimum number of days
taken from fruit set to first harvest was noted in
genotype 71-14 (5.06 days) which were statistically
at par with Sel-4 (5.73 days), Sel-7 (5.30 days), 71-
36 (5.22 days), B.0.-1 (5.21 days) and 71-12 (5.20
days).
The data regarding number of fruits per plant
indicated the maximum number of fruits per plant in
genotype PBN-57 (18.22), which was at par with 71-
14 (16.63) and 81-1 (16.06). The minimum number
of fruit per plant was recorded in genotype 71-36
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Table 3 Estimates of Range and Mean for twelve characters of Bhindi.

Characters Range Mean S.E.
Plant height (cm) 60.25-103.06 85.5104 3.3145
No. of branches per plant 2.19-4.77 3.716 0.2670
Days to first flowering 38.30-47.15 42.5661 1.9314
Days to first fruit set 2.54-4.07 3.32 0.1681
Days from fruit set to fruit harvest 5.06-6.83 6.0253 0.3544
No. of fruits per plant 9.42 - 18.22 12.34211.1397
Fruit Length (cm) 10.49 - 16.64 12.55110.7855
Fruit Diameter (cm) 1.95 - 2.23 2.08370.1197
Fruit Weight (g) 9.66 - 11.06 10.38520.3023
1000 seeds weight (g) 38.93 - 55.75 46.8575 2.1168
Early yield per 10 plants (Kg) 0.48 - 1.00 0.5995 0.0483
Total yield per 10 Plants (Kg) 0.97 - 1.94 1.2799 0.1163

Table 4 Mean of different lines for twelve quantitative characters of Bhindi.

Genotypes Sy Plant No. Of Days Day Days No Fruit Fruit Fruit 1000 Early Total
/lines mb Heigh Branch to first s to from of lengt Diame Weigh seeds yield yield
ol t es per floweri first first fruit h ter t (g) weig per 10 per 10
(cm) plant ng frui Set to per (cm) (cm) ht plants plants
t set first plant (g) (Kg) (kg)
harvest
Pusa T1 87.10 3.95 41.88 2.99 6.83 13.97 12.60 1.97 10.54 46.08 0.67 1.49
Sawani
Vashali T2 94.82 3.90 47.15 3.97 6.72 13.97 10.74 2.23 11.01 47.70 0.66 1.55
Vadhu
PBN-57 T3 103.06 3.95 42.47 3.14 5.93 18.22 14.70 2.03 11.06 49.01 0.79 1.94
Aroh-1 T4 65.50 3.01 45.06 2.54 6.46 9.43 12.50 2.02 10.49 55.75 0.50 0.98
71-38 T5 75.78 3.24 42.86 3.16 6.30 9.84 12.35 2.06 9.86 50.05 0.53 0.97
Pusa T6 60.35 2.91 45.10 3.20 5.83 10.38 11.64 2.15 10.74 46.37 0.59 1.11
Makhamali
N.D.o-25 T7 94,99 3.95 42.24 4.07 6.40 11.16 11.46 2.00 10.44 49.58 0.57 1.16
71-12 T8 96,00 3.39 41.95 2.87 5.20 11.71 10.78 2.11 10.69 47.17 0.58 1.25
86-2 T9 94-95 4.77 43.38 3.07 5.93 11.87 12.96 2.16 10.79 48.89 0.66 1.49
71-3 T10 68.00 3.28 40.03 4.06 6.83 10.40 12.79 1.95 10.23 47.03 1.00 1.06
71-36 T11 75.40 3.47 48.58 3.72 5.22 9.42 12.43 2.21 10.43 49.51 0.98 0.98
71-14 T12 98.52 4.73 41.72 3.15 5.06 18.63 13.13 2.13 10.35 47.41 0.73 1.73
Punjab T13 94.80 4.27 44.51 2.97 5.87 13.65 11.21 2.16 10.17 39.61 0.59 1.39
Padmini
Sel-4 T14 101.6 3.90 40.29 2.91 5.73 14.66 16.64 2.19 10.52 43.88 0.70 1.53
79-2 T15 80.61 3.94 42.25 2.54 5.82 12.05 12.55 2.19 9.94 42.31 0.54 1.19
86-1 T16 95.57 2.19 38.46 3.07 5.93 10.57 13.23 2.01 10.48 49.33 0.50 1.11
Sel-8 T17 94.21 4.23 45.11 3.76 6.14 13.81 14.51 2.00 10.31 50.88 0.65 1.42
KS-312 T18 83.39 3.77 44.46 3.04 5.91 12.66 14.53 2.11 10.80 48.46 0.59 1.36
B.O.-2 T19 66.63 4.21 41.93 3.96 6.54 9.89 11.60 2.12 10.16 54.75 0.48 0.99
B.O.-1 T20 70.75 3.9 38.30 3.06 5.21 10.97 10.49 2.13 9.97 51.26 0.56 1.09
Sel-2 T21 83.35 3.45 42.81 3.11 5.97 11.10 11.78 2.11 9.70 40.92 0.55 1.07
79-7 T22 95.15 2.86 43.35 4.06 6.60 10.44 12.69 2.09 9.66 43.86 0.50 1.01
81-1 T23 90.03 4.01 39.90 4.05 6.68 16.06 11.44 1.97 10.37 38.93 0.73 1.66
Sel-7 T24 98.01 4.14 41.18 3.15 5.30 14.02 14.37 1.95 10.55 40.38 0.71 1.47
Sel-10 T25 69.19 3.36 41.33 3.82 6.19 9.70 11.56 2.06 10.41 42.07 0.57 1.00

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Table 5 Estimates of variance and coefficient of variation (genotypic, phenotypic and environmental),
heritability (%), genetic advance and genetic advance as percentage of mean.
Name of the Genotypi Phenotypi Genotypic Phenotypi Genotypic Enviro Environmen Heritabili Genetic Geneti
Characters c c Variance coefficient c conflict Variance as nmenta tal Variance ty (%) advance c
Variance of Variation of % of l as % of advan
(GCV) Variation Phenotypic Varian Phenotypic ce as
(PCV) variance ce variance % of
mean
Plant height 163.61 180.08 14.96 15.69 90.85 16.47 9.15 90.85 25.1145 29.37
(cm)
No. of branches 0.32 0.43 15.24 17.60 74.96 0.12 25.06 74.96 1.00 27.18
per plant
Days to first 3.33 8.91 4.29 7.02 37.33 3.38 62.68 37.31 2.2963 5.39
flowering
Days to first 0.23 0.27 14.31 15.60 84.19 0..42 15.67 84.19 0.8980 27.05
fruit set
Days from fruit 0.68 0.87 13.70 15.46 78.51 0.19 21.49 78.51 1.5063 25.00
set to fruit
harvest
No. of fruits per 5.59 7.24 19.16 21.80 77.23 1.65 22.77 77.23 4.2811 34.69
plant
Fruit length 1.85 2.78 10.84 13.27 66.85 0.93 33.33 66.65 2.2872 18.22
(cm)
Fruit diameter 0.0001 0.02 00.48 7.05 0.46 0.02 101.95 00.46 0.0014 0.07
(cm)
Fruit weight (g) 0.09 0.23 2.88 4.58 39.47 0.14 60.49 39.47 0.4197 4.04
1000 seeds 17.57 24.29 8.95 10.52 72.33 6.72 27.67 72.33 7.3440 15.68
weight (g)
Early yield per 0.006 0.01 13.24 16.51 64.29 0.004 40.82 64.28 0.1311 21.87
10 plants (kg)
Total yield per 0.068 0.09 20.39 23.23 77.04 0.02 22.62 77.04 0.4719 36.87
10 Plants (kg)

(9.42). The data pertaining to average fruit length
have been presented in Table-3 and 4. The
maximum fruit length was recorded in genotype el-4
(16.64 cm) followed by PBN-57 (14.70 cm), KS-312
14.53 cm), Sel-8 (14.51cm) and Sel-7 (14.37 cm).
The minimum fruit length was noted in genotype
B.O.-1 (10.49 cm) which as at par with 86-2 (12.06
cm), Sel-2 (11.78cm), Pusa Makhamali (11.64 cm),
Set-10 (11.56cm), N.D. 0 -25 (11.46cm), 1-1 (11.44
cm), Punjab Padmini (11.21cm), 71-12 (10.78cm)
and Vaishali Vadhu (10.74 cm).
The analysis of variance revealed that all the
genotypes were statistically at par with in respect of
fruit diameter. However, maximum fruit diameter
was noted in genotype Vaishali Vadhu (2.23 cm)
and minimum in case of Sel- 4 and 71-3 (1.95cm).
In case of fruit weight, the scrutiny of the data
revealed that all the genotypes differed non-
significantly. However, the maximum weight of fruit
was recorded in genotype PBN-57 (11.06g) followed
by Vaishali Vadhu (11.01g) and minimum weight of
fruit was noted in case of 79-7 (9.66 g). The data
related to the early yield per 10 plants ranged from
0.48 Kg to 1.00 Kg. The maximum early yield (1.00
Kg ) was noted in genotype 71-3 and the minimum
in case of B.0.-2 (0.48 Kg) which was statistically at
par with AROH-1 (0.50Kg), 79-7 (0.50Kg), 7138
(0.53Kg), 79-2 (0.54Kg), 71-36 (0.55Kg), Set-2
(0.55Kg), B.0.-1 (0.56Kg), N.D.O. -25 (0.57Kg) and
Set-10 (0.57Kg). While the perusal of data
regarding total yield per 10 plants revealed that the
highest yield 94 Kg for the genotype PBN-57,
which was statistically at par with 71-14 (1.73 Kg).
The mean values of all the twelve characters have
been presented in Table 4. The maximum number of
fruits per plant recorded in genotype PBN-57 (18.22)
followed by 71-14 (16.63) and 81-1 (16.06) whereas
minimum noticed in 71-38 (9.42). The fruit length
was maximum in genotype Sel-4 (16.64cm) and
minimum in case of B.0.-1 (10.49cm). However,

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genotype Vaishali Vadhu recorded the highest fruit
diameter (2.23 cm) and lowest in case of Sel-7
(1.95cm). The fruit weight was maximum in
genotype 13N-57 (11.06g) and the minimum in case
of 79-7 (9.66g). The maximum 1000 seeds weight
was recorded in genotype AROH-1 55.75g)
followed by B.0.-2 (54.75g) whereas, the minimum
as observed in 81-1 (38.94g). The higher early yield
per 0 plants was recorded in genotype 71-3 (1.00Kg)
whereas, he lowest yield per 10 plants was noticed in
genotype .0.-2 (0.48Kg). The maximum total yield
per 10 plants was recorded in genotype PBN-57
(1.94Kg) followed by 71-14 1.73Kg) whereas, the
minimum yield per 10 plants was noticed in 71-38
(0.97 Kg).
The scrutiny of the data in Table 4 indicated that a
wide range of phenotypic variability was present for
plant height (180.0801). The characters like 1000
seeds eight (24.2937) days to first flowering
(8.9262) and number f fruits per plant (7.2410)
exhibited moderate range of variability. However,
narrow range of phenotypic variability as observed
in characters like number of branches per plant
(0.4269), days from flowering to first fruit set
(0.2681), days from fruit set to first harvest (0.8674),
fruit length (2.7750, fruit diameter(0.0216), fruit
weight (0.2265), early yield (0.0098) and total yield
(0.0884). A perusal of the data in Table 5 related to
estimates of genotypic, phenotypic and
environmental variance and coefficient of variation
revealed that a wide range of genotypic variability
was observed for plant height (163.6102), 1000
seeds weight (17.5727) and umber of fruits per plant
(5.5925). However, moderate range of genotypic
variability was noted in characters like days o first
flowering (3.3308) and fruit length (1.8496) other
characters like Fruit diameter (0.0001), Early yield
0.0063), total yield (0.0681), fruit weight (0.0894),
days of flowering to first fruit set (0.2257), number
of ranches per plant (0.3200) and days from fruit set
to first harvest (0.6810) exhibited narrow range of
variability. The scrutiny of the data shown in Table 5
also indicated that genotypic variance as percentage
J of Biotech & Crop Sci (2017) 6(8): 73-81
of phenotypic variance was the highest (90.854%)
and the lowest (0.463) for plant height and fruit
diameter, respectively. The characters like days to
first flowering (37.315%), fruit weight (39.470%),
early yield (64.286%), fruit length (66.652), 1000
seeds eight (72.334), number of branches per plant
(74.959%), total yield (77.036%), number of fruits
per plant (77.234%), days from fruit set to first
harvest (78.510%), and days from flowering to first
fruit set (84.185%) had the intermediate values
between plant height and fruit diameter. The data on
heritability, genetic advance and genetic advance as
percent of mean shown in Table 5, revealed the
highest heritability for plant height (90.85%)
followed by days to first fruit set (84.19%) while
least for fruit diameter (0.46%). The genetic advance
was highest for plant height (25.1145) followed by
1000 seed weight (7.3440) and least for fruit
diameter (0.0014) while the genetic advance as
percentage of mean was highest for total yield per 10
plant (36.87%) followed by number of fruits per
plant (34.69%) and plant height (29.37%) and least
for fruit diameter (0.07%).
DISCUSSION
Under this study an effort was made to assess the
genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance
in Bhindi in order to identify suitable genotype/line
and to evolve a suitable breeding methodology for
this crop. As indicated by the results the high
significant differences for all the characters except
fruit diameter and fruit weight were observed in the
genotypes. The highest (0.48 kg-1.00 kg) and the
lowest (1.95 cm-2.23 cm) range of variability were
exhibited by early yield and fruit diameter,
respectively. A wide range of phenotypic as well as
genotypic variability was recorded for plant height
and 1000 seeds weight. The maximum range was
obtained for plant height and minimum for early
yield. Genotypic variance as percentage of
phenotypic variance was the maximum (90.854%)
for plant height and the minimum (0.463%) in case
of fruit diameter. The maximum environmental
79
J of Biotech & Crop Sci (2017) 6(8): 73-81
variance (16.470) was obtained for plant height
suggesting thereby effective role of environmental
factors in influencing this trait. However, other
characters were found to be relatively less
influenced by it. Total yield, number of fruit per
plant, number of branches per plant, plant height,
and days from flowering to fruit set, days from fruit
set to first harvest and early yield having high
genotypic coefficient of variation were less
influenced by environmental fluctuation and thus
proved more valuable for a plant breeder for further
improvement.
Mishra et al (2015) reported wide variations in okra
for fruit weight (12.23g -23.40 g), first flowering
nodes (4.90-7.77), and fruit yield per plant (192.26
g- 433.34 g). In another study, Sharma and Prasad
(2015) observed that the phenotypic variance and
coefficient of variation in okra were higher than their
respective genotypic variance and coefficient of
variation for all the traits, indicating role of the
environmental effects on their expression. They
found that the differences between genetic
coefficients of variation and phenotypic coefficient
of variation were high for fruit diameter followed by
number of branches per plant, days to 50%
flowering, fruit weight and days to first harvest
indicating the vulnerability of traits to environmental
influences reflects the possibilities of varietal
improvement. While in a study related to genetic
diversity in Okra, Patel et al (2014) reported that
estimates of mean sum of squares due to genotypes
were highly significant for all the characters,
indicating the presence of genetic diversity in the
existing material. The variation was the highest for
fruit yield per plant, followed by fruit yield, plant
height at different days after sowing, 120, 90 and 60
days and fruiting span.
In the present study, the heritability estimates were
high for the most of trait (Table 5). The high
heritability with high genetic gain was obtained in
plant height followed by 1000 seeds weight and
number of fruits per plant. This indicates that the
additive gene effects were important for the
determination of these characters in these cases and
phenotypic selection could be relied upon for
effecting further improvement of these characters.
Regarding plant height, a high genetic advance,
genetic gain and heritability in Okra was also
reported by Joshi (2004).
Thus, it may be concluded that fruit weight, number
of branches per plant, plant height and number of
fruits per plant had high genotypic and phenotypic
coefficient of variation, high heritability together
with high genetic advance, could be considered to
evolve a suitable breeding methodology for genetic
improvement of Bhindi.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors thank the Head of the Department of
Horticulture (Vegetables & Floriculture), Bihar
Agriculture College, Bihar Agricultural University,
Sabour, and Bhagalpur-813 210 for all the supports
during the conduct of experiments.
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