Agronomic Performance and Evaluation of Genetic Parameters of Okra Varieties [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] in Diffa, Niger
IDI SAIDOU Sani
*
Department of Biodiversity and Plants Productions, Faculty of Agronomic and Ecological Sciences, University of Diffa (UDA) BP: 78 Diffa, Niger, Mixte Unit of Research (UMR): Aridoculture and Oasis Crops, University of Diffa (UDA) BP: 78 Diffa, Niger and Research of Management and Valorization of Biodiversity in the Sahel Laboratory (GeVaBioS), Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, Niger.
BACHIR ELHADJI BOUNOU Mandouwa
Department of Biodiversity and Plants Productions, Faculty of Agronomic and Ecological Sciences, University of Diffa (UDA) BP: 78 Diffa, Niger.
ABDOUL-KARIM TOUDOU Daouda
Research of Management and Valorization of Biodiversity in the Sahel Laboratory (GeVaBioS), Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, Niger and Department of Biologie, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey (UAM) BP: 10960 Niamey, Niger.
RABO Younoussou
Department of Biodiversity and Plants Productions, Faculty of Agronomic and Ecological Sciences, University of Diffa (UDA) BP: 78 Diffa, Niger and Mixte Unit of Research (UMR): Aridoculture and Oasis Crops, University of Diffa (UDA) BP: 78 Diffa, Niger.
MAHAMADOU Abdou
Department of Biodiversity and Plants Productions, Faculty of Agronomic and Ecological Sciences, University of Diffa (UDA) BP: 78 Diffa, Niger.
BACHIR ELHADJI BOUNOU Hadjara
Department of Biodiversity and Plants Productions, Faculty of Agronomic and Ecological Sciences, University of Diffa (UDA) BP: 78 Diffa, Niger.
ABDOU Laouali
Department of Biodiversity and Plants Productions, Faculty of Agronomic and Ecological Sciences, University of Diffa (UDA) BP: 78 Diffa, Niger and Mixte Unit of Research (UMR): Aridoculture and Oasis Crops, University of Diffa (UDA) BP: 78 Diffa, Niger.
RABIOU Abdou
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, André Salifou University of Zinder (UAZ), Zinder, Niger and Biosciences Laboratory, Life and Earth Sciences Training and Research Unit, Joseph KI-ZERBO University, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso.
MAHAMANE Ali
Research of Management and Valorization of Biodiversity in the Sahel Laboratory (GeVaBioS), Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, Niger and Department of Biologie, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey (UAM) BP: 10960 Niamey, Niger.
SAWADOGO Nerbéwendé
Biosciences Laboratory, Life and Earth Sciences Training and Research Unit, Joseph KI-ZERBO University, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso and Department of Plant Biology and Plant Physiology, Joseph KI-ZERBO University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
BAKASSO Yacoubou
Research of Management and Valorization of Biodiversity in the Sahel Laboratory (GeVaBioS), Abdou Moumouni University, Niamey, Niger and Department of Biologie, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey (UAM) BP: 10960 Niamey, Niger.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
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.
Keywords: Abelmoschus esculentus, genetic variability, heritability, morphological diversity, Niger