Combining Ability of Inbred Lines and Half-Diallel Crosses for Economic Traits in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Six inbred lines (RNOYR-14, RNOYR-15, RNOYR-16, RNOYR-17, RNOYR-18 and RNOYR-24) along with their fifteen half-diallel crosses were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications during summer 2013 at Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India to determine the nature of gene action and combining ability for pod yield and its component characters of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). Combining ability analysis revealed that both general combining ability (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) variances were highly significant for majority of the agro-economic traits indicating the importance of both additive and non additive gene actions. The ratio of gca variance (σ^2gca) to sca variance (σ^2sca) of less than unity ( 1) indicating the preponderance of non-additive gene action involved in the inheritance of all the traits under study. Inbred line RNOYR-16 was the best general combiner, while cross combinations RNOYR- 14×RNOYR-17, RNOYR-16×RNOYR-17 and RNOYR-17×RNOYR-18 were the high specific combiners for total and marketable yield.