Eighteen genotypes of french bean were evaluated for genetic variability and correlation studies for pod yield and its attributing characters. Both GCV and PCV corresponded closely for all the characters indicating low environmental influence. Highest GCV and PCV were recorded for seed weight per pod (145.12 % and 144.87%, respectively). The highest heritability estimate was observed for number of pods per plant (99.71 %). Pod yield per plant was significantly and positively correlated with number of pods per plant, flower per inflorescence, pod set per inflorescence, plant height and number of leaves per plant. Six characters viz., number of pods per plant (0.917), pod girth (0.791), plant height (0.765), flowers per inflorescence (0.529), pod length (0.284) and days to first flowering (0.134) had high and positive direct effect on pod yield. Therefore, plant height, flower per inflorescence and number of pods per plant emerged as the three most important characters influencing pod yield and selection based on these characters may improve the pod yield.

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Line × tester analysis was carried out with the objective of identifying the good combiners and to decide the breeding strategies for developing potential and productive genotypes or cultivars. Parents and hybrids differed significantly for GCA and SCA effects for all the characters respectively. Specific combining ability (SCA) variance was higher than the general combining ability (GCA) variance which shows the predominance of non-additive gene action for the improvement of all the characters studied. The parents and crosses having highest and significant GCA and SCA effects viz., KO-18 (13.69), KO-6 (9.54) and KO-2 × Parbhani Kranti (19.28) for plant height; KO-12 (0.34), KO-14 (0.19) and KO-5 × V5 (0.60) for number of branches per plant; KO-14 (-0.66) and KO-15 × Arka Anamika(-1.66) for days to first flowering; KO-1(1.10), Arka Anamika (0.46) and KO-9 × VRO-5 (3.28) for fruit length; KO-7 (7.91), VRO-5(1.68) and KO-18 × VRO-6 (8.64) for average fruit weight; KO-2 (1.18) and KO-17 × Arka Anamika (2.80) for number of fruits per plant; KO-9(0.05), VRO-6 (0.01) and KO-11 × VRO-6 (0.10) for total yield per plant were identified as good general and specific combiners. The results establish the worth of heterosis breeding for effective usage of non-additive genetic variance in okra.