Correlation and Path Analyses of Seed Yield in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) Grown Under Different Cropping Seasons

Inter-character correlations and path coefficient analyses of yield related characters were evaluated in some quantitative traits of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) grown under different cropping seasons. Data collected were subjected to correlation and path coefficient analyses to determine the relationships among the characters, as well as the direct and indirect effects of some yield related characters to seed yield. Correlation coefficients among characters varied among seasons. Days to flowering, number of pods per plant, length of matured pod, weight of matured pods per plant, number of ridges per pod, number of seeds per pod and 100 seed weight had significant genotypic correlations with seed yield/plant across the seasons. Environmental correlation coefficients were generally low and non significant except for number of leaves per plant, length of matured pod, width of matured pod and weight of matured pods per plant in all the seasons of study.The genotypic correlation coefficients of eight selected characters with seed yield were partitioned into their direct and indirect effects. Weight of matured pods per plant had the largest direct effect on seed yield/plant in early rain 2005 (season 1) and off season 2006 (season 2), branch length in the early rain 2006 (season 3) and stem height at flowering in late rain 2006 (season 4). The residual effects of 0.16 in season 1, 0.74 in season 2, 0.55 in season 3 and 0.38 in season 4 respectively accounting for 84%, 26%, 45% and 62%, contributed by the characters under study.