Inheritance pattern of okra enation leaf curl disease among cultivated species and its relationship with biochemical parameters.

Okra production in eastern India at present is severely threatened by whitefly-mediated okra enation leaf curl disease (OELCuD). Identification of resistant genotype and understanding the genetic control and biochemical relationship of OELCuD resistance are prerequisite for developing an effective breeding strategy. This study was conducted employing six populations (P, P, F, F, BC and BC) of two selected (resistant x susceptible (RxS)) crosses. Associationship between severity of OELCuD and biochemical parameters of parents and hybrids at preflowering and flowering stages was studied. Segregation pattern of the genotypes in F generation showing OELCuD reaction of two crosses suggested that two duplicate recessive genes was operative for resistance to OELCuD. Generation mean analysis revealed involvement of both additive and nonadditive effects in the inheritance of disease resistance. Hence, postponement of selection in later generations or intermating among the selected segregates followed by one or two generations of selfing to break the undesirable linkage and allow the accumulation of favourable alleles could be suggested for the development of stable resistant genotype against this disease. Higher peroxidase activity and total phenol content in leaf emerged as reliable biochemical markers for early selection of genotype resistant to OELCuD.