Agronomic Performance and Evaluation of Genetic Parameters of Okra Varieties [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] in Diffa, Niger

Genetic parameter estimation is used to develop selection strategies for sustainable and climate smart agriculture. The aim of the study is to determine the level of agromorphological diversity and show which hereditary traits would have good heritability to be taken into account in varietal improvement and genetic progress. Seven hundred and sixty-eight genotypes belonging to four okra varieties were studied during two rainy seasons (2021 and 2022) at the experimental site of the National Institute for Agricultural Research of Niger in Diffa, using a Fisher block experimental design with four replicates. Sixteen agro-morphological parameters were evaluated. The collected data were analyzed using R-v4.3.1, Minitab-18 and XLSTAT-Pro Version-7.5.2 software. Comparison of the average performances of the varieties showed significant differences between the variables studied. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to group similar individuals of the varieties according to the traits evaluated. The results for genetic parameters show that phenotypic variance and phenotypic coefficient of variation are higher than genotypic variance and genotypic coefficient of variation for all parameters studied. Heritability is well above 50% for all parameters except stem diameter (4.94%). The expected genetic gain from the mean ranges from (0.60) to (402.22) and is high for all parameters except stem diameter (0.60) and fruit width (11.36). The various parameters evaluated that show good heritability combined with high genetic gain could therefore be exploited in selection. Furthermore, the use of innovative new technologies such as gene driver or CRISPR_Cas9 genome editing technology could improve these varieties in line with consumer-recommended parameters.