4. Conclusion

In the present study, the existence of genetic variability in the morphological, phenotypic and nutritional traits would help the breeder in selection of the okra genotypes for the improvement for these traits, which would help to increase the frequency of favorable genes in the pre-breeding programme. This is a first pre-breeding programme of okra in South Africa established recently as a prerequisite for the development of new cultivar in the country and beyond for yield and nutritional quality. The okra genotypes in this study showed enormous phenotypic and nutritional variations that would help in the okra improvement programme. The significant positive association between grain yield and yield traits as well as nutritional quality traits could be used as selection criteria for potential and good parental lines in okra breeding programme in South Africa. Understanding and the knowledge of variability and trait association in this study is important in the okra-breeding programme as an initial step to develop new cultivar for the traits of interest. To my best knowledge, this is the first study on this under-utilized fruit vegetable crop species in South Africa that would contribute to food, nutritional and health security.
