Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is a prominent malvaceous vegetable cultivated in India (Maruthi et al., 2025). It is an indispensable vegetable that grows across the tropical, subtropical and warmer regions of the world for it edible pods (Rai and Basu, 2019; Ibrahim et al., 2023; Rai et al., 2025). With 6 million tonnes produced from 0.5 million hectares, India accounts for more than 72% of the world’s okra production (Prem et al., 2024). Among various Abelmoschus species in India, only A. esculentus is cultivated, while A. moschatus is grown for its fragrant seeds (Keerthana et al., 2025). Okra is a nutritious vegetable that significantly contributes to fulfilling the nation’s vegetable demand during periods of scarcity (Chawla et al., 2018). Tender okra fruits are a valuable source of vitamins and minerals (Chacko et al., 2022).
       
Okra genetic improvement has significance due to its dietary, nutritional and economic advantages (Singh and Pandey, 2024). The larger size of okra flowers and the Monadelphous stamens make them simple to emasculate and hand pollinate, facilitating hybridization (Sandeep et al., 2025). According to many studies, okra yield and yield related attributes demonstrated 38 to 71% heterosis (Abdelkader et al., 2024). 
       
Okra breeders have long recognised heterosis as a useful tool for enhancing yield and other important attributes (Ayenan et al., 2025). Research on crop heterosis is essential for identifying the best parents and crosses to improve genetic makeup of okra. The study sought to assess heterosis for yield and its contributing traits and to identify superior hybrids. 

The current investigation was conducted in randomized block design with 3 replications at teaching farm, college of agriculture, Burdwan, BCKV with seven diverse parents (Table 1). Parents were selected for the hybridization programme based on evaluation of yield characters and disease index. By utilizing these 7 parents 21 straight crosses were developed following a 7 × 7 half-diallel mating design (Table 2) without reciprocals. In the spring and summer of 2022, the seeds were sown in the crossing block in five rows, with 60 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants. Seeds of twenty-one crosses along with 7 parents (to be selfed) was collected and stored for evaluation of F₁ and 7 parents along with check during the rainy season, 2022 and spring-summer season, 2023.




       
Observations were noticed on growth an fruit characteristics like primary branches count per plant, Nodes per plant on main stem, Length of the internode (cm), Plant height (cm), Days to 1^st blooming, Days to 50% blooming, Node at 1^st blooming, Days to 1^st harvest, fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), ridges per fruit, fruit weight (g), fruits per plant, seeds per fruit, 1000 seeds weight (g), Yield of fruit per plant (g), BYVMV PDI (Percent disease index) at 90 DAS and OELCV PDI at 90 DAS.
       
Heterosis was computed employing the mean values of hybrids. The magnitude of heterosis for all hybrids was calculated over mid, better-parent and standard check according to Hayes et al., (1955). The analysis was done by using Windostat 9.30 version software (created by Indostat Services, Hyderabad).

In the current investigation, 21 cross combinations along with their 7 parents were studied for 18 traits to assess the heterosis. The range and magnitude of heterosis (pooled data) for various traits (Table 2 to 5) over mid-parent, better-parent and standard check (NBH-45) were discussed below.






       
Significant positive SH (standard heterosis) for plant height over NBH-45 (Check) was observed in the cross Hissar Unnat × AKO 107 (28.81%**) followed by the Punjab 8 × Ajeet 121 (27.06%**). For node counts on the main stem, RH, HB and SH ranged from -12.33 * to 73.46**, -22.01** to 63.65** and -43.67** to 13.35** respectively. For internodal length, RH, HB and SH range from -60.22** to 1.92, -68.74** to 0.19 and -38.35** to 60.23** respectively. A Similar finding was previously reported by Paul et al., 2017. For plant height, RH, HB and SH ranges are -18.26** to 29.43**, -20.65** to 24.23** and -17.73** to 28.81** respectively.
       
The plant’s height, branches per plant, nodes count per plant and internode length are thought to be substantial growth attributes since they significantly affect the fruit-bearing surface of the plant. Nearly every node on the main stem and primary branches of okra yields pods. Plants with more branches on the main stem produce more fruit because they can accommodate more nodes for a given internode length. Lesser distances between nodes increase the number of nodes on the main stem, leading to increased fruit output. To accommodate more nodes and increase okra fruit output, negative heterosis is preferred for internodal length (Salaria, 2021).
       
For days to 1^st blooming, negative heterosis estimates for this attribute implies earliness which would be desirable. Significant negative heterosis over better parent shown by the cross Hissar Unnat × AKO 107 (-29.26%**). Negative heterosis over NBH-45 (check) was reported by the crosses Hissar Unnat × AKO 107 (-1.21) and Punjab 8 × Ajeet 121 (-1.21) but was not significant. Similarly for days to 50% blooming also negative heterosis estimates implies hybrid earliness which would be advantageous. Negative heterosis over NBH-45 (check) was reported by Punjab 8 × Ajeet 121 (-1.03).
       
For node to 1^st flowering, RH, HB and SH range from -27.25** to 19.42**, -29.68** to 11.11 and 0 to 53.91** respectively. Similar outcome was earlier noted by Sidapara et al. (2021). For days to 1^st harvest, RH, HB and SH range from -17.41** to 1.21, -23.85** to 0 and -2.5 to 20.50** respectively.
       
Okra’s earliness is indicated by the attributes such as days to 1^st blooming, days to 50% blooming, first flowering node and days to 1^st harvest. In lieu of providing earlier pickings and higher yields, early blooming and fruiting extends the plant’s fruiting phase. Early yields and higher fruit per plant are two benefits of flowering and fruiting at lower nodes. Hence, negative heterosis is advantageous for these earliness characteristics (Suma et al., 2025). 
       
For fruit length, RH, HB and SH range from -44.09** to 9.83, -47.71** to 4.58 and -46.40** to 5.3 respectively. For fruit diameter, RH, HB and SH range from -17.35** to 14.71**, -23.22** to 12.25* and -30.96** to 0.57 respectively. No significant heterosis was reported for number of ridge per fruit as there is no variation among parents for this trait. For fruit weight, heterosis over NBH-45 (check) was shown by the Punjab 8 x Ajeet 121 (7.66%). Similar finding was earlier reported by Shinde et al. (2023). The number of fruits  per plant has a positive relationship with yield per plant. For this trait, RH, HB and SH range from -24.49** to 53.00**, -33.16** to 37.75** and -42.20** to 1.9 respectively. Similar finding was earlier reported by Chaudhary et al. (2023).
       
Seeds count per fruit has positive correlation with yield. For this trait, RH, HB and SH range from -48.75** to 19.26**, -48.95** to 16.83** and -55.46** to 5.31 respectively. Similar outcome was earlier reported by Chaudhary et al. (2023). 1000 seed weight also has positive correlation with yield. For this trait, RH, HB and SH range from -38.39** to 17.31**, -44.47** to 14.52* and -39.70** to 12.57* respectively. For fruit yield per plant, significant positive heterosis (69.68%**) over mid-parent was displayed by Punjab 8 × Ajeet 121. Significant positive heterosis (50.21%**) over better parent shown by Hissar Unnat × AKO 107. Heterosis over NBH-45 (check) was shown by Punjab 8 × Ajeet 121 (9.59%*). The most promising heterotic cross among all 21 crosses for this trait was Punjab 8 × Ajeet 121.
               
For BYVMV PDI at 90 DAS, RH and HB range from -100.00** to 2069.08** and -100.00** to 984.54** respectively. Negative heterosis estimates for this attribute are desirable. The highest, significant, positive MP heterosis (2069.08%**) and BP heterosis (984.54%**) were noticed in the cross Hoshiarpur local × Ajeet 121. For BYVMV OELCV at 90 DAS, RH and HB range from -100.00** to 1877.16** and -100.00** to 888.58** respectively. The most promising heterotic cross among all 21 crosses for this trait was Punjab 8 × Hissar Unnat, Punjab 8 × Ajeet 121 and Hissar Unnat × AKO 107. Positive heterosis is preferred for attributes like total number of fruits produced by a plant, length and weight of the fruits which are thought to be closely related to the overall yield per plant in okra (Abdelkader et al., 2024; Ranga et al., 2024).  

Okra exhibits heterosis in terms of yield and yield related characteristics. Hybrids differ significantly in their individual heterosis levels for each feature. Yield components must be evaluated to enhance yield by selective breeding. In the current study 2 crosses namely, Punjab 8 × Ajeet 121 and Hissar Unnat × AKO 107 were found most promising and could be commercialized after critical evaluation. 

The present study was supported by department of vegetable science, BCKV.
 
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