Genetic divergence in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.)

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.) is the sixth important vegetable crop cultivated throughout the country. It is one of the most widely grown vegetables from tropical to subtropical and warmer part of temperate zone of the country as summer and rainy season crop. Okra is specially valued for its tender and delicious fruits in different parts of the country. It has a great potential as foreign exchange earner vegetable and accounts for about 60% of the export of total fresh vegetables excluding onion in the India. Due to high iodine content, the fruits are considered useful for control of goiter. Genetic variability plays an important role in crop breeding for selecting the elite genotypes for making rapid improvement in yield and other desirable characters as well as to select the potential parent for hybridization programme.