Managing the variability in okra breeding programs by considering the preferences of the domestic market

Two field experiments were conducted to collect data on yield, yield components, plant morphology characteristics and some basic pod quality characteristics. Data were subjected to factor analysis to work out the relationship among variables. Pod characteristics such as pod weight and diameter positively affected total yield, both characteristics less determinative as consumer preferences in the domestic market. Total yield was also highly and negatively related to early flowering behaviour; however, early flowering behaviour might also be integrated to local okras due to the high market prices in the early season. Vegetative plant structures such as final plant height, height of lateral branches and internodes length had no connection to pod yield, implying that selection for semi-dwarf plant structure would not disturb final plant yield.