Sood, SoniaSamim, Samiullah2019-01-242019-01-242018-07-19http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810092283Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) also called as lady‟s finger or bhindi is one of the most common, export-oriented and principal vegetable crops grown all the year round in the country including low and mid hills of Himachal Pradesh. Development of high yielding and yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV) resistant varieties is the major necessity in this crop. Interspecific and intervarietal hybridization followed by selection have been adopted to develop high yielding and YVMV resistant varieties. However, a frequent breakdown of YVMV resistance of most of the resistant varieties has taken place and this needs immediate attention. Hence, identification and development of new improved disease resistant cultivars is very important to further boost up the production and productivity of the crop. Based on these considerations, the present investigation was, therefore, undertaken in 19 diverse genotypes of okra evaluated in Randomized Block Design with three replications at Palampur during summer-rainy season, 2016 to assess the genetic parameters of variability and to understand the inter-relationships among horticultural traits and fruit yield. The estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were high for first fruit producing node. Moderate PCV and GCV were noticed for days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, fruit yield per plant, fruits per plant, nodes per plant and internodal length. High heritability along with high genetic advance were observed for days to 50 per cent flowering, fruit yield per plant, fruits per plant and nodes per plant indicating the role of additive gene action for their inheritance. Hence, these characters could be improved through direct selection. High to moderate heritability with low genetic advance was recorded for days to first picking, harvest duration and dry matter, indicating the non-additive gene activity, these could be improved through hybridization. Among visually observed characters, green, dark green, yellowish green and dark red fruit colour at immature stage, downy to slightly rough pubescence and 5 ridges per fruit were recorded in the genotypes evaluated. The association studies revealed that the selection based on plant height, harvest duration, fruits per plant, nodes per plant, fruit length and average fruit weight would be fruitful and rewarding for effective improvement of fruit yield per plant. The genotypes 9801, Palam Komal, Hisar Unnat, Parbhani Kranti, VRO-6 and VRO-4 were found to be promising for fruit yield per plant along with other desirable quantitative and quality traits. Thus these genotypes can be directly used after multilocation testing.ennullThesis