Performance and character contributions to variability in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) genotypes

Okra is an important vegetable crop, but its optimal production is constrained by a myriad of problems including pests, poor agronomic practices, and improper varietal identification among others. A study was carried out to determine the field performance and contribution of agronomic characters to overall variation in eighteen okra genotypes over two locations, Teaching and Research Farms of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria and Rehoboth Farms Limited, Moniya, Ibadan, Nigeria. The experiments were laid down in a randomized complete block design with three replicates and data were collected on number of days to emergence, number of days to 50% flowering, number of branches per plant, pod length, pod width, number of pods per plant, plant height, pod weight, number of seeds per pod, number of ridges per pod, 100 seed weight, seed, and pod yield. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, heritability in the broad sense, principal component analysis as well as the single linkage cluster analysis. Results revealed significant (p <0.05) variation in the genotypes and high heritability estimates for most of the characters. Number of branches per plant, plant height, number of pods per plant accounted for the highest contributor to variations in the accessions while clustering analysis revealed genotypes; NGB00303, NGB00342 and NGB00346 were distant from all genotypes making them useful materials for hybridization studies.