Selection of okra parents based on performance and genetic divergence

A total of 200 okra accessions with wide variability and a potential for genetic improvement were stored in the Vegetables Germplasm Bank of the Federal University of Vicosa (UFV-BGH) in Vicosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The objective of this work was to select parents by genetic divergence and behavior per se in 70 okra accessions from the BGH-UFV by quantitative and qualitative descriptors of economic interest. Analysis of individual and combined variance, by clustering of means by Scott-Knott test, of the accessions by Tocher’s method and selection based on qualitative descriptors and behavior per se using the methodology of sum of inverted positions was made. The variability of the characteristics of the accessions as verified by the Scott-Knott test formed different groups and subgroups by Tocher’s method. Fifteen accessions were selected with the qualitative descriptors, and based on the sum of inverted positions for quantitative descriptors the BGH-132, BGH-547, BGH-693, BGH-740, BGH-961, BGH-7863, BGH- 7865, BGH-3196 and BGH-4890 okra accessions were selected as potential parents. Key words: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, germplasm bank, genetic resource, genetic improvement.