GCA and SCA for plant and pod parameters of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Combining ability analysis was carried out for pod yield and its components in okra in a 12 x 12 diallel cross (excluding reciprocals) in a randomized block design, with 3 replications. Both general a combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) variances were highly significant for all the characters indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive gene actions. However, the relative magnitude of general and specific combining ability, variance revealed that the magnitude of general combining ability was less than specific combining ability variance indicating thereby that the non-additive component was of major importance in the expression of all the characters. The highest gca effect for pod yield per plant and pod yield per hectare were recorded in IC-45802, Parbhani Kranti and VRO-3. The highest significant positive sca effect was observed in the cross combinations viz., IC-45802×SB-8, IC-45802×Pusa A-4 and IC-282272×Sel-4 for pod yield per plant and pod yield per hectare. Exploitation of hybrid vigour from these crosses through heterosis breeding method is advocated.