Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 7(4): 1007-1013 (December 2016) ISSN 0975-928X http://ejplantbreeding.com 1007 DOI: 10.5958/0975-928X.2016.00138.1 Research Article Combining ability studies in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) M.M. Wakode 1 , S.G. Bhave 2 , V.C. Navhale 2 , V.V. Dalvi 2 , J.P. Devmore 2 and S.G. Mahadik 2 1 Department of Agril. Botany, College of Agriculture, Nagpur 440001, Maharashtra. 2 Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli 415712, Maharashtra. E-mail: manishwakode@rediffmail.com (Received: 27 Jan 2016; Accepted: 02 Dec 2016) Abstract The experiments was undertaken to study the combining ability for yield and its attributing traits in okra. The experimental material consisted of seven parents and 42 F 1s produced from diallel mating design including reciprocals. Analysis of variance for combining ability was carried out for eleven characters. The mean squares due to gca, sca and reciprocal effects were significant for all the characters, indicating substantial genetic variations for all the characters studied. The genotypes VRO-6, Pusa A-4 and Arka Anamika were identified as good general combiners for most of the characters including yield per plant and can be exploited well in future breeding programme. Similarly, Ajeet Dhanlaxmi 2-4-2 sel x VRO-6, Pusa A-4 x VRO-6 and VRO-6 x Arka Anamika were the good specific combinations and could be used as a heterotic hybrids. For traits viz., nodal position for fruit, days to first flowering, first picking and number of branches additive gene action was observed for governing these traits. However, for other traits  2 D was greater than  2 A indicating the non-additive gene action for the expression of those traits Key words Okra, combining ability, gene action, reciprocal effect, diallel analysis Introduction Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench), is known by many local names in different parts of the world. It is called as lady’s finger in England, gumbo in the United States of America, guino- gombo in Spanish, guibeiro in Portuguese and bhendi in India. Mainly grown in India, Turkey, Iran, Western Africa, Yugoslavia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Burma, Japan, Malayasia, Brazil, Ghana, Ethiopia, Cyprus and the Southern United States. Okra fruits are nutritionally rich. Its 100 g edible part contains 89.6 g moisture, 1.9 g protein, 0.2 g fibre, 6.4 g other carbohydrates, 66 mg calcium, 53 mg magnesium, 56 gm phosphorus, 0.35 mg iron, 6.98 mg sodium, 103 mg potassium, 0.19 mg copper, 30 mg sulphur, 88 IU vitamin A, 0.07 mg thiamine, 0.1 mg riboflavin, 0.6 mg nicotine acid, 13 mg vitamin C and 0.7 g mineral (Chaudhary, 2003). It is grown commercially in most of the states of India as Kharif as well as summer crop in the area of 532.66 thousand hectare and production of 6346 thousand metric tonnes with the productivity of 12 tonnes/ha (Anonymous, 2014). In any sound breeding programmes, the proper choice of parents based on their combining ability is a prerequisite. The studies intended to determine the combining ability is not only for information regarding the choice of parents but also for the production of superior lines or hybrids. The general combining ability and specific combining ability effects are the foundation for any fruitful breeding programme. Allard (1960) pointed out that the common approach of selecting the parents on the basis of per se performance is not a good indicator of their superior combining ability. The choice of parents in any breeding programme has to be based on complete genetic information and knowledge of combining ability of the parents. Hence, the present investigation was carried out to identify the gene action, best general combiners and specific cross combinations for increasing the yield and its components in okra. Materials and methods Seven parents viz Pusa A-4, Akola Bahar, Ajeet Dhanlakshmi 2-4-2 Sel, Shegaon Local, VRO-6, Arka Anamika, PB-236 were selected for diallel mating involving reciprocals, to generate 42 F 1 hybrids. The seven parents and the 42 F 1 S were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications at Department of Botany Farm, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli in the year Kharif 2012. The Parbhani Kranti was used as standard check. The spacing of 60 between row to row and 30 cm between plants to plant was adopted. The observations on five randomly selected plants in each genotype of three replications were recorded for nodal position for first flowering, days to first flowering, days to first picking, plant height, number of branches per plant, fruit length, fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, number of fruiting nodes per plant, internode length and yield per plant (g). The procedure outlined by Griffing, 1956 method 1, model 2 was used to estimate the combining ability. Results and discussion The knowledge of combining ability is necessary for selection of appropriate parents in hybridization. Since it gives an idea whether a particular parent combines well in a cross and also denote the specific performance of a cross