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Method of harvest strategy in dual-purpose okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (syn. Hibiscus esculentus L.) may affect harvest frequency, diversify crop use, and improve grower income. In a 2...

Green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) was done using Abelmoschus esculentus extract as the capping and reducing agent and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) as the selenium source. UV-Vis spect...

This study aimed at identification and characterisation of the wilting, leaf spot, stem canker and fruit-blight diseases of okra. Pathogen infected plant samples were sterilised with 2% sodium hych...

Sandhanasamy Devanesan, Mohamad S AlSalhi Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohamad S AlSalhi Email malsahi@ksu.edu.saBackground: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, an economically important malvaceous vegetable crop popularly known as okra, is used in various culinary preparations and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. The biological properties of okra flowers in relation to nanoparticle synthesis have not yet been reported.Materials and Methods: In the current study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using extracts of the flowers of A. esculentus. The characteristics of the AgNPs were studied using a UV-vis spectrometer, Fourier transmission infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). Antibacterial activity screening was performed using the agar well diffusion method, and cytotoxicity and cell viability studies were conducted using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.Results: The synthesized AgNPs were spherical and ranged in size from 5.52 to 31.96 nm, with an average size of 16.19 nm, as determined by UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, TEM and EDX. A. esculentus flower extract-mediated silver nanoparticles (AME-AgNPs) exhibited excellent activities in vitro studies, particularly in vitro cytotoxic and antiproliferative studies against cancer cell lines, such as the TERT-4 and A-549 cell lines. The antibacterial effects on the Gram-positive pathogens Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes and the Gram-negative pathogens Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium and Shigella sonnei were tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values varied with the bacterial strain. The IC50 values of the synthesized NPs for the tested cell lines were close to that of a standard drug.Conclusion: Compared to other NPs the NPs synthesized in this study were smaller in size and exhibited a higher level of antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity and apoptosis at minimal concentrations, and this is the first study on okra flower-induced anticancer and antimicrobial activities.Keywords: Abelmoschus esculentus, silver nanoparticles, okra green pods, cell lines and cytotoxicity

Wide variability does not exist in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], requiring induction of genetic variability. Mutagenesis creates desired variability among genotypes without altering th...

AeP-P-2, a pectic polysaccharide, was extracted from the fruit pod of okra. It composed of rhamnose (Rha), arabinose (Ara), glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal) and galacturonic acid (GalA) with the ratio of 4.75:2.01:1.00:4.91:7.24. The main structural feature of AeP-P-2 are 1,4-linked galacturonan units (homogalacturonan backbone) and (1 → 2) and (1 → 2,4) linked Rha (rhamnogalacturonan I region). And the other side chains contained →1)-linked Ara, (1 → 5)-linked Ara, (1 → 4)-linked Glc, (1 → 6)-linked Gal, (1 → 4)-linked Rha, (1 → 2,4)-linked Rha, →1)-linked Ara and →1)-linked Gal. When the concentration of AeP-P-2 was 3.2 mg/mL, the scavenging rates on DPPH·, ABTS, O2−· and ·OH reached to 61.88%, 87.10%, 52.17% and 60.32%, respectively. AeP-P-2 also could protect PC12 cells from the damage of H2O2 and reduce apoptosis caused by oxidative damage by decreasing the level of ROS. The findings indicated that okra was a functional vegetable and AeP-P-2 was worth studying and developing into antioxidant component.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient necessary for the optimal development and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). Plants absorb zinc in soluble form as Zn2+; a large amount of zinc in the soi...

Chromium (Cr) is a major abiotic stress for plant species that significantly impacted plant development and impeded agricultural production. Menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB) has recently manifested a remarkable role in modulating plant defense responses. In the present experiment, Cr caused a significant decrease in growth, relative water contents, and chlorophyll in okra cultivars (Shabnam 786 and Arka Anamika). Cr produced an increase in proline, total soluble proteins, total free amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and Cr accumulation. Besides, activities of antioxidant enzymes were also higher in Cr-stressed plants. MSB application (50, 100, 150, and 200 µM) profoundly impacted growth and important physio-biochemical characteristics in okra under Cr stress. Better growth in MSB treated plants was associated with lower oxidative damage and better oxidative defense system reflected in the form of higher antioxidant enzyme activities alongside the concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds. In this background, cv. Shabnam-786 exhibited greater Cr tolerance over Arka Anamika. The degree of oxidative damage measured in the form of H2O2 and MDA was greater in cv. Arka Anamika. Lower MSB levels (50 and 100 µM) circumvented inhibitory Cr effects in okra, while higher doses proved lethal for plant growth and development.

The preparation of thiolated okra gum by use of full factorial design to optimise the reaction conditions.Thiolated gum was obtained by esterification optimised by full factorial design. The effect of varying the thiolated Okra concentration, chitosan concentration, pH, and stirring speed on particle size, entrapment efficiency and zeta potential was observed using Box-Behnken design.Maximum yield and degree of substitution were obtained at reaction time of 152 min, 6.73 ml of thioglycolic acid and 70 °C of temperature. The optimised calculated parameters were thiolated okra concentrations of (0.07% w/v), chitosan concentration (0.05% w/v), pH (3), stirring speed (4430 rpm), which yielded nanoparticles of size 294.3 ± 0.3 nm, 43.57 ± 1.21% entrapment and 23.29 ± 2.3 mV of Zeta potential.NPs were observed to be promising for brain targeting.

Using a rat diabetes model, the authors examined how substrates and products of glycolysis and key regulatory enzymes for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, Kreb's cycle, and glycogen metabolism react to treatment with okra diet therapy, relative to glibenclamide treatment.The animal grouping involved normoglycemic rats, untreated diabetic rats, and diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide, 50% w/w okra sauce, exclusive okra sauce diet, or sauce without okra. Alloxan monohydrate was the diabetogenic agent. Insulin and adiponectin were assayed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) while the metabolites and enzymes were assed using standard spectrophotometric methods.The exclusive diet therapy significantly (Okra diet has shown insulin-sensitizing potentials with prolonged intake during diabetes as well as the potential to reverse alterations in the major carbohydrate-metabolizing enzyme.

Light interception by okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] can be altered by changing row and plant spacing and plant/row orientation. In okra, reduction in yield can occur due to improper pla...

Planting density affects the level of competition for resources needed for the growth and production of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [L.] Moench). Competition from weeds can affect yield. Field exp...

Intercropping system of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is becoming popular among farmers in Nigeria, but there is little or no information on the appropriate r...

The extensive use of nanoparticles (NPs) in various industrial and household products pose a threat of their release into the environment. Plants being sessile are prone to be directly affected by these nanomaterials in polluted soils, which may represent possible risks to food safety and human health. In the present study, we compared the phytotoxic effects of metal oxide NPs namely nickel oxide (NiO), copper oxide (CuO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs at four varying concentrations (100, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/L) on in-vitro grown seedlings of Abelmoschus esculentus (okra). All the NPs tested demonstrated a suppressed plant growth in a concentration-dependent manner which was evidenced from the repression of shoot and root length. A decrease in chlorophyll content was recorded in the NP-treated plants. Anthocyanin contents, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were significantly altered in the NP-treated plants. Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was monitored in the roots of NP-treated plants using 4-nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) and 3, 3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining, demonstrated an increase in ROS production in a dose-dependent manner in plants exposed to all three NPs. Enhanced ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) production was recorded in A. esculentus seedlings when exposed to NPs. Among the three metal oxide NPs compared in the study, NiO NPs were found to be more toxic than CuO and ZnO ones.

Pot trials were conducted to determine the efficacy of incorporating fresh leaves of Morinda citrifolia, Lantana camara and Palm pressed fiber into soil, to manage Meloidogyne incognita, infecting ...

Increasing demand for fresh okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) has necessitated that shelf-life be extended. Natural edible coatings do not have human safety issues associated with chemical preservat...

Micronutrient malnourishment is a problem in developing countries, most especially among women and preschool children. Breeding okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench] for high seed contents of mi...

This study evaluates the effects of different gum extraction methods on the mucoadhesive strengths of Abelmoschus esculentus (AE) and Irvingia gabonensis (IG) gums and the release of vaccin...

Any increase in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] production depends on effective use and application, of appropriate management practices. This will likely require changes in knowledge, an...

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) production in the tropics is threatened by heavy incidence of enation leaf curl virus (ELCV) causing crop loss when infection is at the early growth stages. ...

Okra enation leaf curl virus (ELCV) disease is an emerging threat to okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench.) cultivation in the tropics. Identifying and utilizing tolerant germplasm, and understan...

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] landraces found in Nigeria are being examined as sources of genetic variation offering potential to improve agro-morpho-nutritional traits and broa...

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is an economically important vegetable crop that is widely cultivated in the tropics for its nutritional properties. There are concerns, though, that in Ch...

A greenhouse experiment was carried-out to evaluate the effect of three rates of salinity as abiotic stress on okra plants (Abelmoschus esculentus) infected with the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) as biotic stress. Plant lengths and weights were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced except root weight and there was a positive correlation between increasing the salinity concentration from 0.1 to 0.3% and increasing the rate of reduction in plant criteria. The number of J2 in soil, galls, and eggmasses were decreased linked to increased salinity rate as compared to nematode control treatment. However, peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly reduced linked to increasing the salinity concentration from 0.1 to 0.3%. There was no significant difference between total phenols at all treatments. Meanwhile, there was no significant improvement in N, P, and K contents whereas photosynthetic pigments (a, b) and carotene were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced by nematode infection and incre...

Contamination of chromium signifies one of the major threats to soil system. Phytoremediation is a promising technique to reclaim metal-contaminated soil using plants which are capable to tolerate and accumulate heavy metals within in their tissues. The experiment reported in this article was carried out with six biofuel plant species, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, Glycine max, Avena sativa, Abelmoschus esculentus, Sesamum indicum and Guizotia abyssinica, were subjected to eight Cr concentrations (0.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg kg−1 soil) to investigate Cr toxicity, tolerance and accumulation. After 12 weeks of experiment, Cr phytotoxicity on morphological and biochemical parameters were evaluated. For six plant species, seed germination and most of growth parameters were significantly (p C. tetragonoloba > A. sativa > A. esculentus > S. indicum > G. max > G. abyssinica. Bioconcentration factor, bioaccumulation coefficient, translocation factor and phytoremdiation ratio suggested that C. tetragonoloba, A. sativa and A. esculentus being more tolerant; having higher Cr accumulation and could be a high efficient plants for reclamation of Cr-contaminated soils.

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] production is threatened by yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV) and enation leaf curl virus (ELCV) diseases, of which ELCV has become prevalent and ser...

This experiment evaluated the potentials of cocoa pod husk (CPH)-based compost on okra and soil chemical properties. Three CPH-based compost: CPH+ Neem leaf (CPH+ NL), CPH+ Poultry manure (CPH+ PM) and CPH+ PM+ NL were prepared. The treatments; 25, 50, 75, 100 kg N/ha of each compost and NPK mineral fertilizer at 40, 50, 60 kg N/ha and control, were applied to 5 kg soil each and arranged in a completely randomized design in three replicates. Two varieties of okra (NH47-4 and LD88) were grown for six weeks and residual effect evaluated. The Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium uptake of okra were determined. Pre- and post-cropping soil analyses were done. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and means separated by Duncan Multiple Range Test at α₀.₀₅. The results showed that the nutrient uptake of okra consistently increased with CPH-based compost compared to control in both main and residual cropping. Nitrogen uptake ranged from 53.6 (60 kg N/ha NPK) to 106.7 (50 kg N/ha CPH+ PM) and 16.10 (50 kg N/ha NPK) to 55.06 (25 kg N/ha CPH+ PM+ NL); Phosphorus uptake ranged from 6.9 (25 kg N/ha CPH+ NL) to 24.1 (60 kg N/ha NPK) and 3.70 (25 kg N/ha CPH+ NL) to 9.98 (50 kg N/ha CPH+ PM+ NL), while potassium uptake ranged from 166.4 (25 kg N/ha CPH+ NL) to 244.48 (25 kg N/ha CPH+ PM+ NL) and 64.06 (40 kg N/ha NPK) to 122.29 (75 kg N/ha CPH+ NL) mg/plant in main and residual cropping, respectively. Organic carbon, pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) were also significantly increased by the CPH-based compost. It could, therefore, be concluded that CPH-based compost could be a good fertilizer for okra production.

Drought causes severe reduction in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] yield. However, the impact of drought on okra physiology has been impeding breeding where relative degrees of tolerance ...

Knowledge of productive and nonproductive water loss of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is essential during water scarcity, and for assessing links between yield and water use. The study ...

The effect of nitrogen (N) application rate and sowing date on seed quality and pod production of four cultivars of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) were examined. Seeds of four okra cultiv...

In order to explore the effect of okra on the cloudy and flavor characteristics of wheat beer, fresh okra and dried okra were added separately into boiling wort. The beer without okra was used as control sample. Aroma characteristics were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography, headspace–solid-phase microextraction–GC–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and electronic nose. The results showed that okra addition significantly increased the turbidity and viscosity. Principal components analysis reflected that three beers were apart from each other. After adding okra, the higher alcohols decreased, while the esters increased. In conclusion, okra can be used to improve stability and aroma characteristics.

Foliar sprays of three plant resistance inducers, including chitosan (CH), potassium sorbate (PS) (C6H7kO2), and potassium bicarbonates (PB) (KHCO3), were used for resistance inducing against Erysiphe cichoracearum DC (powdery mildew) infecting okra plants. Experiments under green house and field conditions showed that, the powdery mildew disease severity was significantly reduced with all tested treatments of CH, PS, and PB in comparison with untreated control. CH at 0.5% and 0.75% (w/v) plus PS at 1.0% and 2.0% and/or PB at 2.0% or 3.0% recorded as the most effective treatments. Moreover, the highest values of vegetative studies and yield were observed with such treatments. CH and potassium salts treatments reflected many compounds of defense singles which leading to the activation power defense system in okra plant. The highest records of reduction in powdery mildew were accompanied with increasing in total phenolic, protein content and increased the activity of polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, chitinase, and β-1,3-glucanase in okra plants. Meanwhile, single treatments of CH, PS, and PB at high concentration (0.75%, 2.0%, and/or 3.0%) caused considerable effects. Therefore, application of CH and potassium salts as natural and chemical inducers by foliar methods can be used to control of powdery mildew disease at early stages of growth and led to a maximum fruit yield in okra plants.

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), a fibre crop, is a member of the Malvaceae family and related to cotton (Gossipium hirsutum L.) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). Natural fibres have ma...

Leading crops such as cotton, maize, rice and wheat were the first to be studied using omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics). Those crops that are considered l...

Compositions, molecular characteristics, and rheological properties of the water-extractable polysaccharides from okra were investigated. The proportions of galacturonic acid and monosaccharides in...

This study evaluated the thermal requirements for development of the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis depending on different biological parameters on Okra leaves Abelmoschus esculentusat under two constant temperatures (20 and 30 °C) at (RH 65%, 12:12 h. light/dark). The effect of temperature on eggs was ineffective since it hatched shortly to first nymphal instars after deposition. While the tested temperature caused significant effects on nymphal durations, pupation rate (pre-male stage), females emergence %, pre-oviposition, longevity, post-oviposition periods and fecundity in females (egg deposition, ovisacs numbers and hatchability %). The thermal constant and developmental zero were calculated to be 7.29 °C and 79.9 degree-days (DDs) for eggs, 11.67 °C and 272.9 DDs for nymphal stages, 11.06 °C and 46.4 DDs for males and then 3.31 °C and 554.1 DDs for females, respectively. The duration of the life cycle was 65.6 ± 10.36 days at 20 °C; this was shortened to 35.51 ± 1.12 days at 30 °C. ...

Linseed and okra mucilages, the fungal exopolysaccharide botryosphaeran, and commercial fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) were used to microencapsulate Lactobacillus casei LC-01 and L. casei BGP 93 in sodium alginate microspheres by the extrusion technique in calcium chloride. The addition of carbohydrate biopolymers from linseed, okra and the fungal exocellular (1 → 3)(1 → 6)-β-D-glucan, named botryosphaeran provided higher encapsulation efficiency (EE) (>93% and >86%) for L. casei LC 01 and L. casei BGP 93, respectively. The use of linseed, okra and botryosphaeran improved the stability of probiotics encapsulated in the microspheres during the storage period over 15 d at 5 °C when compared to microspheres formulated with sodium alginate alone as the main encapsulating agent (p ≤ 0.05). In in vitro gastrointestinal simulation tests, the use of FOS combined with linseed mucilage was shown to be more effective in protecting L. casei cells LC-01 and L. casei BGP 93.

Okra [Abelmoschus esculenntus (L.) Moench] production is constrained by insect pests. Botanical insecticide may be an alternative to synthetics in pest management. Insecticide of all types can affect the physiology of crops. Three botanical insecticides, one synthetic insecticide, and two solvents, applied at three concentrations, were evaluated to determine effects on nutrient and antinutrient composition of okra. The materials were extracted on a weight/volume basis. The highest Ca, K, and Cr contents were in the botanical Morinda lucida (Benth) when tissues were extracted with 80% ethanol. The highest magnesium, iron, and zinc contents were in the botanical Vernonia amygdalina (Delile) when tissues were extracted with water at 90% concentration. The highest Mn and P contents were in M. lucida when botanical tissues were extracted with 90% ethanol and V. amygdalina when botanical tissues were extracted with water at 80%, respectively. No insecticide, the botanical V. amygdalina tissues extracted...

The most effective means of combating reduced productivity in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is development of genotypes with potential for high yield. Selection for crop yield improvement can only be effective when information is available on yield association with component characters. A study was conducted to identify indirect selection criteria for yield in okra. Sixteen hybrid genotypes obtained through North Carolina Design II mating between four genotypes as males and four as females were established in single-row plots in Oct. and May of 2013 and 2014, respectively. Beginning at flowering, data were recorded on number of days to 50% flowering, stem diameter, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod width, number of ridges per pod, number of seed per ridge, number of seed per pod, 100-seed weight, and seed yield·per hectare. Analysis of variance was performed on separate and combined data and analysis of covariance was ...

Cleome viscosa is an emerging weed with the potential of interfering with okra and influencing pests of okra. Screen house studies were conducted on the phenology of C. viscosa, its interference with okra and its interaction with root-knot nematode-infected okra. Seedlings of C. viscosa were monitored in pots for growth, yield and dry matter accumulation for 14 weeks. C. viscosa was planted with okra at densities 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeds per okra plant and observed for 11 weeks. Data were collected on growth, yield and dry matter of okra. Plants were inoculated with 2,500 M. incognita eggs per pot while control plants were not inoculated. C. viscosa attained 91.7 cm height and accumulated 7.8 g/plant biomass at 14 weeks after planting. The percentage reduction in okra plant height, plant dry weight and fruit yield due to interference at lowest cleome density (2 plants/pot) was 33.7, 83.6 and 82.1%, respectively. Nematode reproductive factor was significantly lower for okra alone (4.9) compared t...

A field experimentation was conducted during 2009-2011 at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India characterized with wet-temperate climate and acid Alfisol soil having medium available phosphorus content. The study aimed at bio-fortification and quality enhancement of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)–pea (Pisum sativum) cropping system through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus mosseae) at varying inorganic phosphorus (50, 75, and 100% soil-test-based recommended P dose) and irrigation regimes (40 and 80% available water capacity) in a Himalayan acid Alfisol. The results revealed that AMF and inorganic P significantly enhanced the concentrations and uptake of various primary [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)]; secondary [calcium (Ca)]; and micronutrients [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo)] in okra and pea crops. However, effects of varying irrigation regimes were found to be nominal. In okra, AMF inoculation ...

Pods of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L Moench) ‘BARI Dherosh-1ʹ cultivated in a farmer’s field in Gazipur District, Bangladesh, were found rotted in December 2014. A fungus having fluffy mycelium and large sclerotia was isolated from affected pods. Combined results of morphological, molecular and pathological analyses identified the fungus as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib) de Bary. Inoculating the fungus on healthy okra pods reproduced the symptoms previously observed in the field. This is the first report of S. sclerotiorum causing disease of okra in Bangladesh.

Increased okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] production cannot be achieved without application of improved cultural practices. Okra growers’ use of these practices depends on their knowledge of the practices. The study was conducted with 125 okra growers selected through random sampling. A structured questionnaire and face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. The majority of respondents (49.6%) had a medium level of knowledge of okra cultivation practices followed by low (29.6%) and high (20.8%) levels of knowledge. Okra production will likely be increased if grower knowledge of cultivation practices is improved.

The present study was carried out to probe the agronomic response of hybrid cultivar of okra (Hibiscus esculentus L. var. JK 7315) grown in secondary treated municipal wastewater irrigated soil with field investigations. The concentrations of the municipal wastewater viz., 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% along with the control (groundwater) were used for the irrigation of the H. esculentus. The study revealed that the concentrations of the municipal wastewater showed significant (p < 0.05/p < 0.01) effect on the soil parameters after wastewater fertigation in comparison to groundwater in both the seasons. The maximum agronomic performance of the H. esculentus was recorded with 60% concentration of the municipal wastewater in both the seasons. The contamination factor of heavy metals varied in the H. esculentus plants and soils. In the H. esculentus plants, following fertigation with municipal wastewater, the contamination factor of manganese was the highest, while that of chromium was the lowest. Intermediate contamination factor were observed for zinc, copper, and cadmium. Therefore, secondary treated municipal wastewater can be used as an agro-fertigant after appropriate dilution (up to 60%) to achieve the maximum yield of the H. esculentus.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is an economically important plant in China which is widely used in food, medicine and manufacturing. In September 2014, diseased samples of okra were collected in Yanqing District, Beijing City, China. Symptoms were brown to brownish black, sunken cavities on the leaves and fruits. The disease occurred on okra plants with an incidence of 35–55% in different fields. According to morphological and cultural characteristics, and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and actin (ACT) regions, the pathogen was identified as Boeremia exigua (Desm.) Aveskamp, Gruyter & Verkley. Pathogenicity of the isolated fungus was conducted on okra fruits and on potted plants. Symptoms similar to those occurring in the field were reproduced. This is the first report of Boeremia spot of okra caused by Boeremia exigua in China.

Four okra cultivars [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] were cultivated for two growing periods at nitrogen (N) application rates of 150, 300 and 450 mg N L−1. There was no effect of N on pod size (length and diameter) or on the number of seeds per pod and seed size (mean 1000 seed weight), all these characteristics of which related to the genotype. High N application (450 mg N L−1), increased the seed yield of the cultivar with the lowest flower induction (Boyiatiou), but only in experiment 2. In Veloudo, seed yield was highest at 300 mg N L−1, whereas in Pylaias and Clemson 450 mg N L−1 reduced seed yield. In all cultivars, seeds produced at an N rate of 450 mg N L−1 exhibited a significantly higher percent germination N, possibly by reducing the incidence of seed hardness.

Increased oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) has been reported to possess many important biological properties. We undertook in vivo studies on male Wistar rats to examine the antioxidative potential of okra in normal and alloxan-treated diabetic rats. Okra extract was administered to control and diabetic rats for 35 consecutive days. Erythrocyte plasma membrane redox system (PMRS) activity (p < 0.05), erythrocytes lipid peroxidation (MDA) (p < 0.01), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) (p < 0.001), increased by 153%, 31%, and 290%, respectively, in response to alloxan treatment, while intracellular reduced glutathione (p < 0.001) and total antioxidant potential of plasma in terms of Ferric reducing ability (FRAP) (p < 0.01) decreased by 75% and 22%, respectively, on alloxan treatment. Okra supplementation provided protection to the rats against alloxan-induced changes. Based on the present results, we hypothesize that okra has strong antioxidative potential and may be used as a dietary supplementation in diabetes for prevention of oxidative stress-mediated complications.

Ten okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) plants showing distinct yellow vein mosaic disease (YVMD) symptoms were collected from different fields in Karnataka State, India. The genomic DNA of the isolated viruses was amplified, cloned, and sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that the DNA-A-like sequences of all ten isolates were identical. Sequence analysis of a representative virus isolate (OYSK2) with other begomovirus sequences available in GenBank showed ≥90% sequence identity with Bhendi yellow vein Maharashtra virus (BYVMaV; EU482411) and ≤89% homology with full-length Bhendi yellow vein mosaic virus (BYVMV) infecting okra on the Indian subcontinent. These results suggested that a new strain of BYVMaV was present in all ten samples collected from the field. A source of resistance to BYVMaV and naturally present virus isolates causing YVMD was identified by screening okra genotypes under artificial and natural inoculation conditions, respectively. None of the genotypes tested showed complete imm...

The present investigation was carried out at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India, during 2009–2011 to economize inorganic phosphorus (P) and enhance profitability of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)–pea (Pisum sativum) cropping system through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A field experiment was replicated thrice in a randomized block design comprising 14 treatments involving AMF (Glomus mosseae) at varying inorganic P (50%, 75%, and 100% of recommended soil test-based P dose) and irrigation regimes (40% and 80% available water capacity] in a Himalayan acid Alfisol. In okra, AMF inoculation at varying P and irrigation regimes registered higher P response ratio (PRR), net returns (10–18%), and benefit:cost (B:C) ratio (17–49%) compared to “generalized recommended P dose (GRD)” and their non-AMF counterparts. Similarly in pea, AMF inoculation at varying P and irrigation regimes again registered higher PRR, net returns (14–23%), and B:C ratio (10–58%) com...

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is an economically important crop in sub-Saharan Africa. The vegetable is of major technological interest in food and medicinal applications. A survey was conducted by administering structured questionnaires (1560) in major okra-producing regions in Ghana to determine the level of okra utilization and nutritional and medicinal attributes of the crop. The okra pectin yield and intrinsic viscosity at different maturity stages were also investigated. Isolation of okra pectin from the pods at different harvest maturity was performed by aqueous extraction at pH 6.0. The intrinsic viscosity [η] of the okra pectin solutions was determined at 20°C using Ubbelohde capillary viscometer. The survey showed that okra is well known (96.9%) across the country among the various ethnic groups. The majority (94.7%) of the respondents use okra as food, whereas few utilized the crop as medicine (22.1%) and for other applications (9.6%). The respondents widely used okra in the form of soup (73.1%) and stew (68.7%) consumed popularly with banku (81.3%) and tuo zaafi (38.8%). The majority of respondents (65.2%) showed interest in the development of new products from okra. Highest pectin yield was obtained for intermediate matured fruits, followed by that of immature fruits and lowest for overgrown fruits. The intrinsic viscosity value, however, was highest for immature fruits. The study showed that okra is mainly used as food among various ethnic groups and that it is important to identify the most appropriate stage of development to harvest the okra fruit. This knowledge would enhance the potential of okra for specific use or functionality.