Genetic Variability and Heritability Studies in West African Okra (Abelmoschus caillei (A. Chev. Stevels)

Genotypic and phenotypic variances, genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance were estimated for twelve agronomic characters in ten West African okra, Abelmoschus caillei. The genotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 0.47 days to 50/% flowering to 41.43 for number of fruits per branch. Heritability estimate ranged from 32.00 days to 50% flowering to 98.14 for seed yield. Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) and Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) were estimated for edible pod length, dry fruit weight, number of seeds per pod, number of fruit per plant, number of pod per branch and seed yield per plant indicating a good genetic variability in these characters in West African okra. Thus direct selection for these traits would be highly effective in West African okra. The relatively high magnitude of heritability along with high genetic advance recorded for edible pod length, number of branches per plant, dry fruit weight, number of seeds per pod, number of fruits per branch, number of fruit per plant and seed yield per plant were indicative of likely effectiveness of selection for these characters.