Abstract

The study investigated genetic variability in terms of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), broad sense heritability, genetic advance (GA), genetic advance by mean (GAM), and relationship among traits. Thirty accessions of okra, collected from six agro-ecological zones of Nigeria were planted out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications and for two cropping seasons at the experimental field of Plant Science Department, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria. Planting was done on a 2 m2 plot having 0.6 m and 0.5 m between and within row distances respectively. Data was recorded for each genotype on some growth and yield traits. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the accessions for all traits studied. Values for PCV were greater than GCV for all traits. High (>20 %) GCV and PCV were observed for all traits except for days to flowering, days to 50 % flowering, stem girth (medium 10-20 %) and canopy spread with low (< 10 %). High heritability (> 70 %) and high genetic advance (> 20 %) were observed for most of the traits studied. The high heritability and genetic advance exhibited among the accessions for number of branches, number of fruits per plant and yield per plot suggest that yield of okra can be greatly improved by selection.