Stability analysis for earliness in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. moench)

Twelve varieties/inbred lines of okra and their 66 F₁’s, were analyzed together to study the genotype x environment interactions and to identify more stable genotypes/crosses for six earliness related traits in okra. The stability analysis of variance of mean data revealed that there was ample genetic variability among the genotypes and the performance of the genotypes was greatly influenced by the varying environments. Thirty-three genotypes were stable for plant height and internodal length as indicated by non-significant deviation from regression. All genotypes were found stable for days to first picking. For number of primary branches per plant, all genotypes possessed regression coefficient greater than unity, thus revealing that the parents and crosses with high mean values were suitable for favourable environments. However, for total yield per plant, none of the parent or cross showed average stability. Five crosses viz., HU x PA-4, HU x PB-1, VRO-4 x PB-1, VU x NDO-10 and NDO-10 x PB-1 were found stable for better or favourable environments, whereas, two crosses HRB-107-4 x HU and PB-1 x S-2 were stable in poor/unfavourable environments.