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An attempt has been made to study the effect of thickness and compactness of natural fibre assembly in the reduction of noise. Fourteen available natural fibres i.e. banana, bhimal, roselle, coconut, cotton, wool, flax, hemp, jute, nettle, okra, pineapple, ramie, sisal and two synthetic sound absorbers i.e. rockwool, glass wool have been tested for sound absorption coefficient. Depending on availability and sound absorbency property, jute fibre (Corchorus olitorius), has been selected for detailed study. Test probe has been designed to test the fibre bundle in impedance tube principle. It is observed that there are significant absorption and transmission loss of sound energy through the jute fibre bundle either alone or covered with paper laminate. Statistical models based on second-order standard polynomial and Box and Benken factorial design, have been suggested to predict the sound transmission loss and absorption with respect to thickness and density in different frequency level of sound for stuffed fibre and paper panel stuffed with fibre. The correlation coefficients between observed and predicted values are above 0.95. Stuffed jute fibre shows maximum sound absorption with 30 mm thickness, 1.0 g/cm3 density in the application of 5000 Hz sound frequency. In case of transmission loss for below 18 mm thickness, jute fibre stuffed paper laminate panel shows increase up to 1.0 g/cm2 and then decrease. The sound loss reaches the maximum in the application of 1500 Hz frequency and then remains constant. Therefore, it can be effectively used as sound absorber or barrier protecting the environment from sound pollution, if designed properly. The knowledge from this study can help to design sound insulator or barrier from an industrial crop like jute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an endeavour is made to study the feasibility of natural coagulants like Cicer arietinum, Dolichos lablab, Maize seeds, Moringa oleifera seeds, Okra seeds, Orange peel, Peanut seeds, Roselle seeds, Sapodilla seeds and Strychonos potatorum seeds on the reduction of phosphorous content from Industrial wastewater. The batch coagulation test was done to identify the optimum coagulant dosage, pH level at which the removal efficiency is high, mixing time and floc settling time required for the removal of phosphorous in the wastewater. A chart was plotted between the removal efficiency of all the chosen coagulants corresponding to the dosage, pH, mixing time and settling time. The removal percentage of phosphorous is more for Moringa oleifera seeds with 93%, followed by Strychonos potatorum seeds with 89% and Sapodilla seeds with 83% demonstrates the minimum phosphorous removal from the wastewater as 37%. Moringa oleifera seeds can be utilised as an effective coagulant for the removal of phosphorous from the wastewater. The maximum percentage removal efficiency of phosphorous was achieved by Moringa oleifera seeds for the coagulant dosage 5.8 mL, pH of 7, mixing time of 30 minutes, settling time of 30 minute and the final phosphorus concentration of 306.1 mg/L was achieved. Also, the corresponding values of pH, optimum coagulant dosage, mixing time and settling time for the phosphorus removal vary according to each chosen coagulants. Based on this study, a model was developed in accordance with the coagulation dosage and concentration of phosphorus. The overall regression accuracy of the Langmuir hypothesis model was identified as r2 = 0.94. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Okra is a new type of healthy vegetable and belongs to the homology of medicine and food in traditional Chinese medicine. It is rich in nutrients and active ingredients (i.e. dietary fiber, vitamins, oils, polysaccharides, polyphenols), which makes it to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and other functions. This paper reviews various ingredients in okra, their health benefits and their mechanism of action; also pays attention to the influence of different processing methods on the quality of okra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saliva is a biological fluid that plays many roles, such as cleansing, lubrication, mucosal integrity, buffering, remineralization, digestion, and antimicrobial activity. Xerostomia is a clinical condition characterized by the sensation of dry mouth. Patients with chronic or temporary dry mouth sensations require treatment to relieve symptoms. Synthesis of artificial saliva is important for this purpose. The as-prepared artificial saliva closely resembled natural saliva. However, locally manufactured salivary substitutes are of porcine origin. Therefore, it is necessary to synthesize saliva from a substance with a quality similar to that of mucin. This study aimed to synthesize artificial saliva using the edible herb, Abelmoschus esculentus. In this study, the minerals and antimicrobial substances present in human saliva were replaced by adding different salts and beneficial components in Abelmoschus esculentus. Viscosity, pH, surface tension, relative density, UV-vis absorbance, FTIR, and wetting time were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of salicylic acid can enable the use of brackish water in the hydroponic cultivation of okra in arid and semi-arid regions. In this context, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of salicylic acid in mitigating the impacts of salt stress on the physiology, growth, and production of "Canindé" okra cultivated in a hydroponic system. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, using an NFT—Nutrient Film Technique hydroponic system. A completely randomized design was adopted in a split-plot scheme, with four levels of electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution—ECns (2.1, 3.6, 5.1, and 6.6 dS m−1) considered as plots and four concentrations of salicylic acid—SA (0, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.6 mM), considered as subplots, with four replications, each of which consisting of two plants. Foliar application of salicylic acid at a concentration of 1.2 mM attenuated the harmful effects of salt stress on the physiology, growth, and production components of "Canindé" okra cultivated in a hydroponic system with ECns of up to 6.6 dS m−1. Plants cultivated with ECns of 6.6 dS m−1 and salicylic acid at a concentration of 1.2 mM obtained an increase of 11.13% (36.4 g per plant) in total production per plant compared to plants cultivated with the same ECns level and without application of salicylic acid. These results demonstrate that salicylic acid, when supplied by foliar application at adequate concentrations, can act as a signaling molecule and reduce the effects of salt stress on hydroponic okra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil pollution has become a serious environmental problem worldwide due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. Zinc (Zn) contamination has raised concerns about potential effects on plants and human health. This study was conducted to assess the capability of four biofuel plants: Abelmoschus esculentus, Avena sativa, Guizotia abyssinica, and Glycine max to remediate and restore Zn contaminated soil. Selected plants were grown in soil exposed to different Zn treatments (50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mg Zn kg−1) for 12 weeks. Soil without spike taken as control. Zn induced toxicity significantly (p < 0.05) reduced seed germination and inhibited plant growth and leaf chlorophyll content. The investigated plants can tolerate a soil content of 800 mg Zn kg−1 with the exception of A. sativa, which was most tolerant to high Zn concentrations (1000 mg Zn kg−1) for all growth criteria. Moreover, increasing Zn content in soil resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in Zn accumulation in various tissues of the four biofuel plants. According to phytoremediation efficiency, the four biofuel plants studied were arranged as follows: A. sativa (5.05%) > A. esculentus (4.15%) > G. max (2.31%) > G. abyssinica (1.17%). This study concluded that all tested biofuel plants species, especially A. sativa exhibited high Zn concentrations in roots and shoots, high Zn uptake capability, high tolerance, and high biomass at 50–800 mg Zn kg−1 treatments. Consequently, these biofuel plants are excellent candidates for phytoremediation in Zn contaminated soils. Heavy metal contamination of soil poses a serious threat to the environment. Physical and chemical remediation methods are commonly used to remediate metal contaminated sites. It is not commercially viable, except that it is harmful and causes soil degradation. Alternatively, biological remediation techniques are cheap and environmentally friendly. Different plant species have been found to differ in their ability to accumulate metals under contaminated soil. Therefore, the present study provides a unique opportunity to study the metal accumulation potential of four biofuel plants (Abelmoschus esculentus, Avena sativa, Guizotia abyssinica and Glycine max) under zinc metal spiked soils. These plants are able to grow rapidly by developing a strong root system, high biomass production, and high tolerance to metal toxicity that helps them survive in contaminated soil environments. The investigated biofuel plant can be used to decontaminate contaminated sites and serves as a source of commercially valuable products that extract metals from biomass through combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flea beetle Nisotra uniformis Jacoby is a widespread pest of malvaceous crops for which synthetic chemical insecticides remain the principal control tool, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. With the ultimate aim of developing a microbial alternative for N. uniformis control, we conducted laboratory experiments (25 ± 1°C; 70 - 80% RH) to evaluate the biological attributes of three Cameroonian isolates of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (Metchnikoff) Sorokin. Spore germination rates of the isolates varied from 0.5% after 4 hrs to 100% after 24 hrs on PDA medium, with MIITAC11.3.4 spores germinating fastest. Pathogenicity tests consisted of dipping adult beetles in conidial suspensions. All isolates were pathogenic to N. uniformis, with corrected mortalities varying between 23.3 - 86.7%. BIITAC-O-2 had the lowest LC50 at 5.17 × 106 conidia/ml, while MIITAC11.3.4 and BIITAC6.2.2 had LC50 at 4.11 × 107 conidia/ml, and 2.00 × 108 conidia/ml, respectively. BIITAC6.2.2 produced the shortest time to the highest mortality rate (1.17 days) and the shortest LT50 of 1.64 days but only at the highest concentration, followed by the two highest concentrations of MIITAC11.3.4 (LT50 at 3.43 and 5.70 days). The c parameter in the Weibull model showed that BIITAC-O-2 caused the highest rate of increase in mortality (2.42) at the highest concentration, followed by MIITAC11.3.4 (1.09) and BIITAC6.2.2 (0.50). The results of our study provide the basis for including N. uniformis in the ongoing development of BIITAC6.2.2 and MIITAC11.3.4 into biopesticide while continuing with further laboratory studies on BIITAC-O-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security, agricultural sustainability, and nutritional security are global challenges for the present and future generations. Agronomic zinc (Zn) biofortification of crops is one of the best approaches to achieve the desired goal, with Zn being the most deficient soil micronutrient globally. With an aim to study the impact of Zn fertilization on okra pod mineral composition and to screen out the Zn efficient and responsive okra genotypes among the tested ones, a field experiment was conducted with eight genotypes and three Zn levels [0, 25 kg zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4.7H2O) ha−1 as basal, and 25 kg ZnSO4.7H2O ha−1 as basal + two foliar sprays of ZnSO4.7H2O @ 0.5%) in a split-plot design with three replications. A significantly higher pod and straw yields were recorded for the Ankita genotype. While highest total Zn uptake was registered for the genotypes Hissar Unnat, Ankita, and Pusa Makhmali. The results also showed that the significantly highest Zn content in okra pod was recorded in NOKH-1012 genotype compared to the rest of genotypes at different levels of Zn application. The yield efficiency index varied from 81.1 (Hissar Unnat) to 89.2 (Pusa Makhmali), whereas, the uptake efficiency index varied from 52.7 (Hissar Unnat) to 75.6 (NOKH-1012). Based on yield and uptake efficiency indices, the okra genotypes were classified as efficient and responsive [Perkins Long Green (PLG), NOKH-1012, and Kiran Hybrid], inefficient and responsive [Punjab-8 (P-8), Ankita], efficient and non-responsive, (Pusa Makhmali), and inefficient and non-responsive (Hissar Unnat and Palam Komal). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of okra residue obtained after pectin extraction from three okra genotypes (Asha, Balabi, and Agbagoma). The okra residue was oven-dried. Proximate analysis and functional properties were determined using standard AOAC methods, whereas mineral content was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Phenolics and antioxidant capacity were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH methods. The okra pectin extraction residues were rich in carbohydrates (70.0–71.7%) and ash (19.55–21.9%), but had relatively low proteins (0.87–3.62%) and moisture (4.71–5.94%) contents. The okra residue samples had high potassium (8.59–9.27 mg/100 g) and sodium (.380–3.93 mg/100 g) contents. The solubility index for the varieties ranged from 18% to 25%, whiles swelling power ranged from 8% (Balabi) to 10% (Asha). The pectin extraction by-products showed high water absorption (546% to 617%) and oil absorption (216% to 318%) capacities. Residues from all okra genotypes demonstrated antioxidant activity (7.13–15.15%) and contained varied amounts of phenolic compounds (13.85–33.58 mg GAE/100 g). The results showed that okra residue obtained after pectin extraction has high nutritive and functional values, and could be exploited for other economic utilization instead of discarded as waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Keywords: ; ; ; ; ; Okra bast fibers; corn husk fibers; agro-residual fibers; thermal properties; mechanical properties ZH EN Okra bast fibers corn husk fibers agro-residual fibers thermal properties mechanical properties 9101 9110 10 11/21/22 20221220 NES 221220 Introduction Maize ( I Zea mays L i .) Physical and mechanical properties of alkalized okra bast and corn husk fibers obtained via alkalization HT

A rapid, sensitive and selective analytical method was validated for the determination of chlorantraniliprole residue in okra and soil using single quadrupole gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analytical method showed good linearity in selected matrices and the limit of quantification was 0.01 mg/kg. Recoveries were ranged from 94.19–97.82% with the relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.74–3.93%. Under the optimised parameters, the developed method was applied to analyse the dissipation kinetics of chlorantraniliprole residue from field samples. Field results showed that half-lives of chlorantraniliprole in okra and soil were 2.21 and 2.16 days, respectively and a harvest withholding period of one day suggested for safe consumption. The residue concentrations were reduced from okra fruit using simple decontamination processes and could remove residues in the range of 11–61%. The dietary risk assessment of chlorantraniliprole on okra was negligible depending on the RQ value of less than one and the ecological risk assessment was found to be less than one (RQ < 0.1) for earthworms and arthropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-year experiment was undertaken during kharif seasons of the year 2019 and 2020 to investigate the effect of bioorganic nutrient sources (farmyard manure, vermicompost, jeevamrit, and ghanjeevamrit) and inorganic fertilizers on residual soil fertility, nutrient uptake, and fruit yield of okra in Entisols of Himachal Pradesh. The experiment consisted of nine treatments with varying combinations of nutrient sources. Treatment T3 [jeevamrit application (100% N equivalence) + farmyard manure @ 10 t ha−1] resulted in highest residual soil organic carbon (12.00 g kg−1), culturable microbial count (69.67 cfu g−1 soil × 105), microbial biomass carbon (67.43 mg kg−1) and nitrogen (37.40 mg kg−1) as well as maximum plant-available N (309.3 kg ha−1), P (23.2 kg ha−1), K (187.9 kg ha−1), S (60.3 kg ha−1), Fe (15.55 mg kg−1), Cu (1.92 mg kg−1), Mn (11.73 mg kg−1) and Zn (1.62 mg kg−1) contents. Further, the treatment T6 [jeevamrit application (100% N equivalence) + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1] obtained the greatest value for okra yield (11.95 t ha-1) along with more uptake of macro and micro nutrients by the plants. This superior combination (T6) recorded an increase of 21.3% in yield over T2 (RPMF) as well as the highest net returns (₹ 1,50,258/ha) and B:C ratio (2.69). Thus, it can be inferred that the conjoint use of jeevamrit (100% N equivalence) with farmyard manure or vermicompost is beneficial for improving residual soil fertility, nutrient uptake, and sustainable okra production with 100% net saving of fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 spectrum confirmed the formation of Se-NPs in the solution. According to the XRD pattern, the average particle size was estimated to be about 30.7 nm. The TEM images shown the spherical shape of Se-NPs. The antimycobacterial effects of Se-NPs were tested against the standard strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37RV) and Mycobacterium simiae isolates. Antibacterial impacts were examined through the usage of resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) against bacterial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There were no significant abilities to be reported from the Se-NPs for combating M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. simiae strains. Based on the results, the nanoparticles displayed stronger antibacterial activities towards the Gram-positive bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to sense and respond to physical stimuli is of key importance to all living things. Among the common environmental stimuli detected by living organisms are light, temperature, and a variety of chemical signals. A number of these stimuli appear to be closely related and can be considered as physico-mechanical stimuli. Plant hormones like ethylene have a definite role in plant growth stages from seed germination to senescence and death of plants. Calcium carbide, a solid material, has been proven in recent years to be a new source of this hormone. Calcium carbide absorbs moisture from soil and releases acetylene gas which by the microbial activities are converted to plant hormone ethylene. The role of calcium carbide was studied, especially the effects of this material during the seed germination stage. Under closed conditions this material was applied to okra seeds and its physico-chemical changes in seed during germination were observed. It was concluded from the experiment that calcium carbide has a definite role in okra seed germination as there was early germination and root formation observed in treated seeds with a callus formation on the roots of germinating seeds which developed in to secondary roots in very short time as compare to control in the same period. It was also observed that in treated okra plants, early flowering and fruit formation was initiated which contributed about 27% green pod yield increase in okra. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A common practice among all oil producing companies is to burn off any unwanted gas that liberates from oil during production. Although this process ensures the safety of the rig by reducing the pressures in the system that result from gas liberation, it is very harmful for the environment. The implementation of a no-flare design will have a great impact in reducing the emissions from production. The problem of no-flare design is comprised of the separation of gas, solid and liquid. In this article, various options in achieving a no-flare process are discussed. While advances have been made in separating liquid and gas, challenges are abound when it comes to separation of gases. Unless this is done, the capture and use of gases cannot be performed with any appreciable efficiency. Various novel options for separation processes are highlighted. Membrane separation will he highlighted as well since it offers the greatest hope for a no-flare design in this regard. In addition to effective separations, value added end products will be discussed. This essentially means the usage of the separated wastes. Various methods of fines usage as well as low quality gases will be outlined. Novel methods to purify produced waters are also examined. Indeed, a no-flare design coupled with value added end products is imperative for the future of an environmentally appealing oil and gas industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study describes the impact of microwave radiation on the germination rate and growth of Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (okra). The two okra varieties, viz. Meenaxi-371 and Soniya-1402, were used for the experiment. Their seeds were exposed to 0–14 h (h) of microwave radiation (9.3 GHz). Non-irradiated seeds (0 h exposure) served as control. We found that microwave radiation on seeds resulted in an increase in their germination indices and also stimulated the concentration of β-1,3-glucanase enzyme. The results also indicate a remarkable increase in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids, chlorophyll, lutein, protein, and β-carotene in okra seedlings exposed to 8–10 h of radiation. A further dose escalation in the microwave radiation caused a decline in the germination and growth of the okra plant. The expression level of ACS4, ETR2, and ACS6 showed up-regulation under the influence of microwave irradiated conditions. Therefore, it is evident that a well-controlled and defined irradiation has the potential to enhance the overall growth and yield of selected okra varieties. Abbreviations: RNA: ribonucleic acid; qRT-PCR: quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; EMF: electromagnetic field; ACS: amino cyclo synthase; ETR: ethylene transport receptor [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock phosphate (RP) is being considered as a phosphorus (P) source for reversing soil fertility depletion in Sub-saharan Africa. We are undertaking research to evaluate organic or inorganic materials to be combined with RP to enhance P availability. Field trials were conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan in 2001 and 2002 to evaluate the comparative effects of urea (U) and poultry manure (PM) on solubilization of rock phosphate and on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). Okra growth and yield were significantly enhanced by the addition of the treatments. The combined use of RP with either PM and to a lesser degree U, significantly improved the growth and yield of okra compared to when the materials were used individually. Application of RP + U and RP + PM increased available soil P of between 112 and 115% and 144 and 153%, respectively in both year. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Wide variability does not exist in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], requiring induction of genetic variability. Mutagenesis creates desired variability among genotypes without altering the agronomic base which is sometimes difficult to induce using other breeding methods. Seed germination/seedling emergence and seedling growth were evaluated under laboratory and field conditions by imposing 300 to 1000 Gy (Gray, the SI unit of radiation) gamma radiation to determine median lethal (LD50) and median growth reduction (GR50) doses with Co60gamma rays. The LD50 and GR50 doses varied for both growing conditions. More than 80% of seed exposed to the LD50 dose of gamma radiation in the laboratory did not emerge under field condition. The LD50 and GR50 doses of gamma radiation determined under field condition exhibited close correspondence and presented a reliable picture regarding lethality and injury in the M1 generation (the first generation from the irradiated seed). The R2 for the linear model for seedling emergence, shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight of seedlings under field condition were 0.908, 0.902, 0.911, 0.983 and 0.972, respectively. Determination of the LD50/GR50 is important to optimize the radiation dose to isolate desired utilizable mutants. Dose optimization should be determined through use of LD50 and GR50 under field condition. The gamma radiation dose between 350 Gy and 450 Gy was optimum to create desirable mutants in okra. The optimal dose could induce a higher rate of mutation with little biological damage in succeeding generations of okra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 hychlorite solution for 20 mins and then cultured at 28 °C for 15 days followed by microscopic examination. Combined microscopic, morphological and cultural characteristics analyses identified the four okra fungal isolates (OFI) such as OFI-1, OFI-2, OFI-3 and OFI-4 as Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium chlamydosporum and Choanephora cucurbitarum, respectively. The isolates OFI-1, OFI-2, OFI-4 showed highest radial growth rates at 25 °C, pH 5 and 20% lactose containing media while it was sucrose for OFI-3. BLASTN search using the sequence of ITS regions revealed that OFI-1, OFI-2, OFI-3 and OFI-4 isolates had 98, 100, 97 and 100% homology with F. oxysporum, C. lunata, F. chlamydosporum and C. cucurbitarum, respectively. Pathogenicity tests were also confirmed by reproducing the disease symptoms in okra plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at comparing swell drying versus conventional shade drying and optimizing the texturing by instant controlled pressure drop (DIC) of green okra pods. Differences in quality attributes such as content of flavonoids, carotenoids, and chlorophyll pigments, functional characteristics such as the antioxidant activity (AOA), microstructure and relative expansion ratio of dried okra pods were considered. The DIC processing parameters were the saturated steam pressure (0.2-0.6 MPa) and duration (40-60 s). A 2-parameter, 5-level central composite rotatable design was selected for establishing the experimental trials. They represent 8 factorial and star trials, and five repetitions of central/middle point of the square edges. Significant variations in total phenolic and flavonoid contents, carotenoids, antioxidant activity, and chlorophyll pigments were observed between swell-dried and conventional shadow dried okra pods. An increase of 25% and 99% was respectively observed for the relative expansion ratio and flavonoid content in swell dried okra pods compared with conventional shadow dried ones. The microstructure observations showed a significantly more porous open solid matrix of swell-dried okra pods compared to the compact/dense solid matrix of the conventional shadow dried okra pods. The optimum conditions of DIC-texturing were found to be 0.4 MPa for 50 s exhibiting the highest values of total phenolic content, flavonoids, antioxidant activity, and chlorophyll pigments with good preservation of the carotenoid content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 soil are in insoluble forms. Zinc solubilizing microbes could be substitutes for zinc fertilizers and transform inorganic zinc into plant accessible forms. The study was aimed to isolate and screen a range of Zinc solubilizing bacteria (ZSB) from vermicompost for their plant growth-promoting properties with okra. Thirty bacterial isolates from vermicompost were examined for zinc solubilization with ZnO and ZnCO3 using dilution plate method on Kings B medium. Two strains, i.e., VBZ4 and VBZ17, were found most prevalent Zn solubilizing isolates with 32 mm and 43 mm solubilization zone for ZnO supplemented media. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used for quantitative assessment of Zn solubilization, where VBZ4 displayed significantly higher solubility of ZnO (26.8 ppm) compared with VBZ17 (22.2 ppm). The quantitative results of plant growth promotion characters showed that VBZ4 and VBZ17 isolates to solubilize the maximum amount of phosphate with 316.72 μg/ml and 214.0 μg/ml, and indole acetic acid production, 10.2 μg/ml and 17.1 μg/ml respectively. Further, ZSB isolates were introduced with Okra seeds under pot experiment, where treatment P4 (seeds + VBZ4 + VBZ17) found significantly effective on plant growth and maximum zinc content in Okra fruit (2.85 mg/100g) compared to control. Application of these bacteria may help to provide sufficient amounts of Zn bioavailability, including improved plant growth in a sustainable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess soluble salts in the soil and irrigation water creates difficulties for plant growth and lowers nutrient availability in the soil. Organic ameliorants such as biochar are believed to be one of the effective treatments for soil improvement and salt stress alleviating. To access the response of different types of salt in irrigation water and bamboo biochar amendment on okra growth and nutrient leaching in coastal saline soils, both column and pot experiments were carried out from 2018 to 2019 in Nanjing, China. The experimental results suggested that okra growth and yield were reduced notably under the saline condition in contrast with the control treatment. Anthocyanin accumulation, which is a sign of growth stress, was decreased after the application of different types of salt. Furthermore, the application of different types of salt effectively increases malondialdehyde (MDA) content in sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and sodium chloride (NaCl) treatments at both 2.0 and 4.0 dS/m. Meanwhile, MDA was reduced in CaCl2 and MgCl2 treatments at both 2.0 and 4.0 dS/m. Nevertheless, bamboo biochar remarkably ameliorated okra seed germination, growth process, and yield due to salt stress. Besides, the leaching of nitrate, total nitrogen and total phosphorus is significantly reduced in the case of biochar application. In conclusion, our study suggested that bamboo biochar is one of the alternatives of ameliorant to improve the productivity of plants in coastal saline soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 micronutrients in a high pod yielding background may contribute to correcting this problem. This requires evaluating micronutrients association with agro-morphological and seed elemental traits. Field evaluations were conducted with 20 okra landraces during 2016 and 2017 at Abeokuta, Nigeria. Genotypic correlation, regression and path analyses were performed to determine key driving traits of high pod yield, and seed iron and zinc contents. There were significant differences in landraces in the agronomic and nutritional traits. Correlation analysis indicated a positive, significant, relationship between plant height at flowering and maturity, and number of seed per pod with pod yield. Regression analysis indicated number of pods per plant was the most important trait for pod yield improvement as it retained the highest coefficient of determination. Path analysis identified tall plants with more pods be used for improvement of pod yield. Heavier seed should be used for improvement of seed iron content, seed magnesium and potassium contents should be targeted to achieve seed zinc content improvement. Plant height and number of pods per plant should be focused on in improvement of pod yield in okra. The 100-seed weight could serve as a major selection criterion to achieve increased seed iron content. Determination of other yield-related, and nutritional, traits might provide additional insight into improving pod yield and seed elemental minerals in okra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture and forestry resources are central to African development. In this study, Tokpli mining zone (Togo) soils were characterised and the ones appropriate to garden crops and reforested species identified and located on a map using several database and literature. Results showed that tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) and chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) are suitable for slightly acidic clay soils of Ahlimegni. Abelmoschus esculentus is suitable for Assou-kondji soil. Solanum macrocarpon was found appropriate to Ziome-kondji and Anagonou-kpota soils. Forest species such as Salix babylonica, Khaya senegalensis, Eucalyptus spp., and Terminalia superba exhibited best growth on slightly acidic clay soils of Ahlimegni area, rich in organic matter. Acacia auriculiformis, Azadirachta indica, Cola gigantea, and Albizia zigya can grow better on the slightly basic sandy soils of Anagonou-kpota and Ziome-kondji. Other species like Gmelina arborea, Mangifera indica, Salix babylonica, and Morinda lucida were found not selective and could be reforested on all soil types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) bast fibers and corn (Zea mays L.) husk fibers were extracted via different degumming methods and subjected to different chemical treatments including alkalization, bleaching, maleic anhydrite and vinyl acetate treatments. Alkalization resulted in decrease of tensile stiffness and tenacity of the fibers while increasing elongation rate. Corn husk fibers were found to be more vulnerable to chemical treatments. Bleaching and vinyl acetate treatments led to the highest mechanical strength for okra bast and corn husk fibers, respectively. Okra fibers were found to be superior in terms of fineness and mechanical performance compared to corn husk fibers. The performance characteristics exhibited by the okra bast fibers are comparable to that of conventional bast fibers. Thus, okra bast fibers are promising for use in biocomposites as reinforcement elements, whereas cornhusk fibers may find use in non-load bearing applications like thermal insulation or noise control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of okra pectin as a stabilizer and a texturizer on the quality and consumer acceptability of tigernut milk and fried yam, respectively. Okra pectin concentrations 0% (control), 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% were used in the preparation of tigernut milk as well as to pretreat yam slices before deep frying. The viscosity and microbial quality of the tigernut milk samples were evaluated, whilst the moisture content, oil uptake and colour of fried yam were also determined. Consumer acceptability test was conducted on both the tigernut milk and fried yam using 50 semi-trained panelists. The viscosity of the tigernut milk samples which ranged from 4.67 cP to 10.50 cP increased with increasing concentrations of okra pectin. The microbial load of all tigernut milk samples were within the acceptable limits. With the exception of sample appearance, okra pectin also had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the sensory quality of tigernut milk. On the other hand, okra pectin treatment in the fried yam samples resulted in significantly different moisture (54.33–56.71%), oil uptake/fat content (4.00–5.50%) and colour (L*a*b*) values. Results showed that okra pectin had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on all sensory quality parameters of fried yam samples though 0.2% okra pectin treated yam had the highest mean overall acceptability. The findings suggest that treatment with okra pectin can be exploited to make appreciable impact on the quality and consumer acceptability of fried yam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The type of production environment can affect agronomic performance of West African okra [Abelmoschus caillei (A.Chev) Stevels] breeding lines and their progenies. The study was conducted to (1) compare agronomic performance of West African okra lines and F2 populations under upland and bottomland environments, (2) identify sources of genes with potential to improve pod yield, (3) estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations for evaluated traits, and (4) estimate expected response to selection for pod yield and other agronomic traits through intergeneration correlation and regression. Twenty-three genotypes (9 F2 populations and their corresponding 14 parents) were grown in two production environments at the research farms of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Results were analyzed using principal component analysis, correlation and regression analyses. Unique trait profiles in genotypes responses to production environments occurred. Most genotypes indicated adaptation to the bottomland environment by reducing days to physiological maturity. Hybrid AGA97/066/5780 × NGAE-96–-0062-2, which combines early maturity with superior expression of pod yield between production environments, may be used to improve earliness in West African okra. Principal component analysis revealed three major factors that explained more than 66% and 69% of interrelation among traits in upland and bottomland, respectively. Changes of genotypic correlations between pod yield and other agronomic traits occurred between environments indicating the influence of environmental factors to trait correlation. A significant, positive correlation, and regression coefficients, between parents and the F2 generation for pod yield occurred between production environments, indicating the effectiveness of selection for pod yield in the early segregating generation. Generally, bottomland production environment offered a higher potential for agronomic trait expression in breeding lines and F2 population of West African okra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water deficit in semi-arid areas is a limiting factor affecting crop production and quality. The Middle East suffers from low rainfall and high temperatures. Foliar fertilization with Tecamin max®, compensates for nutrient deficiency by roots due to water deficit. The water soluble fertilizer Tecamin max® was applied to foliage to determine effects on morphological traits of the okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], cvs. Samara and Ptira, under water deficit. There were irrigation levels of 50 and 100% based on field capacity, and concentrations of Tecamin max® (0, 2.5 and 5.0 mL∙L−1). 'Samara' had the tallest plants (115.50 cm), most leaves/plant (~ 31), longest time to flowering (30.44 days), most fruit/plant (51.38) and highest total yield (1.120 kg∙m−2). The 100% irrigation level produced values for plant height (107.66 cm), number of branches/plant (12.72), number of leaves/plant (29.77), total leaf area (492.00 dm2/plant), number of fruit/plant (46.27), and total yield (0.982 kg∙m−2) that were higher than for the 50% level. The 2.5 mL∙L−1 application of Tecamin max® produced plants that were 110.75 cm tall, having 14.25 branches/plant, a total leaf area of 529.33 dm2/plant, ~ 48 fruit/plant and total yield of 1.056 kg∙m−2 that were greater than for the other treatments. Foliar application of Tecamin max®, regardless of cultivar, improves vegetative growth under normal, and water deficit, conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 need to be quantified. The okra, cv. NHAe 47-4, was exposed to 25, 50, 75, or 100% field capacity (FC) to impose water deficit for 5 or 10 days, at the vegetative (V), vegetative and reproductive (VR), or reproductive (R) stages, and effects on growth and yield, leaf relative water content (LRWC), leaf photosynthetic pigments, proline, and cysteine accumulation assessed. Simulated drought reduced LRWC, leaf chlorophyll content, biomass accumulation, and okra growth compared to the control (100% FC). The effect was more severe on plants subjected to water deficit of 10 days duration at vegetative and reproductive stages at 25% FC. Plants treated at the vegetative stage alone recovered faster than those treated at the reproductive stage alone and treatment at the two stages together. After recovery, plants exposed to water deficit at the vegetative stage alone produced more chlorophyll than the control. Okra plants exposed to water deficit produced more proline, cysteine, and carotenoids than untreated plants, with the least recorded in control, and the response varied based on duration and different FC at every growth stage. The highest values for proline and carotenoids were at 25% FC for 10 days duration at every growth stage. Plants exposed to water deficit produced more fruit than the control, especially those exposed at the vegetative stage only. Under prolonged water deficit for 10 days at the vegetative stage, there was 90.95, 70.80, and 131.18% increase in fruit yield at 25, 50, and 75% FC, respectively, compared to the control. Soil water maintained at 75% FC throughout the growing period enhanced fruit production compared to other field capacities including control. Okra response depends on water deficit severity, duration, and growth stage. Production of proline and carotenoid could be a strategy employed by okra plants for tolerance under water deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 < 0.05) reduced under high Cr stress. Chlorophyll contents were also decreased with increased Cr concentrations. Accumulation of Cr was higher in roots than shoot in all studied plants. Significant Cr accumulation was in the order of 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) (Malvaceae), is a medicinal plant widely used in Turkish traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as ulcers and gastritis. Objective: In the present study, we evaluated the gastroprotective effect of okra against ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in animal models. Materials and methods: Wistar rats were treated with 500, 250 or 100 mg/kg okra; 20 mg/kg famotidine (Fam); and 75 mg/kg quercetin (Que). Following a 60 min period, all the rats were given 1 mL of ethanol (80%). One hour after the administration of ethanol, all groups were sacrificed. Results: At 5000 mg/kg, the extract produced (okra) no signs of toxicity in animals. Okra 500, 250, 100, Fam 20 and Que 75 inhibited ulcer formation by 81.0, 67.5, 67.0, 76.3 and 72.4%, respectively. Okra 500 significantly decreased edema, hemorrhage and inflammation scores compared with the ethanol group (p < 0.05). The oxidant levels decreased significantly in the all study groups compared within ethanol group (p < 0.001). Serum β-carotene and retinol levels significantly increased 40.2 and 45.4% in the okra 500 group. In okra 500, 250 and Fam 20 groups, apoptosis significantly decreased (p < 0.001), while okra 500, 250 and Fam 20 groups showed a higher percentage of cell proliferation compared with the ethanol group (p < 0.001). Discussion and conclusions: Our in vivo data indicate that okra has a gastroprotective effect against ethanol and could reduce the gastric ulcer as seen from biochemical and histopathological results. We suggest that okra could be a possible therapeutic antiulcer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing concern about excessive use of nitrogen (N) and water in agricultural system with unscientific management in Indian and developing countries of the world. Field experiments were conducted on the lateritic sandy loam soils of Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, during spring-summer (February-June) seasons for three years (2015-2017) to evaluate okra crop response under subsurface drip and conventional furrow irrigation with varying amount of nitrogen treatments. Irrigation treatments had three levels of soil water depletion from field capacity (i.e., 20%, 35%, and 50%) under subsurface drip system. There was no soil water depletion under conventional furrow irrigation system. There were four levels of nitrogen fertilizer treatments (i.e., 0, 80, 100, and 120 kg ha-1). This was supplied using urea as a nitrogenous fertilizer. The yield response of okra crop under subsurface drip was found to be 56.4% higher than that of the furrow irrigation treatment. Best yield response and maximum water use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency were recorded under 20% soil water depletion with 100 kg ha-1 of nitrogen fertigation. Among the various soil moisture depletions, subsurface drip at 20% soil water depletion treatment responded least quantity of water lost through deep drainage and nitrogen loss beyond the root zone as compared to other irrigation treatments. The water loss through subsurface drainage was observed as 33.11 mm lesser under subsurface drip as compared to that of the furrow irrigation, and this may due to low-volume and frequent irrigation water application with subsurface drip. Hence, irrigation through subsurface drip should be used for improving water and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency of okra crop cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rockwool is an inert growing media popular in the hydroponics industry. Eventually the rockwool fills with plant material and must be replaced and the residuals are disposed. Composting of this material will conserve landfill space. Although the rockwool itself is stable, roots and other plant materials remaining after harvest can decompose. We studied the effect of composting greenwaste feedstock mixed with spent rockwool in the amount of 10% volume on plant growth. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with two types of soils: sandy loam and clay, each with and without rockwool, and applied at rates 0, 25, 50, and 100 t ha−1 to pots which were then seeded with okra, tomato, or chili pepper. Results indicate that plant growth of all three crops was unaffected by the presence of (10% volume) spent rockwool in the compost. In all cases, increase in application rate of compost enhanced plant growth significantly. While the growth of tomato was unaffected by soil type, shoot weights of okra and chili pepper plants were significantly lower in sandy soil compared to clay loam soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil micronutrients have different degrees of residual effect to crops; again crops differ in their sensitivity to micronutrient requirement. Evaluation of residual effects of micronutrient application to cauliflower, okra, and transplant aman rice in a pattern was studied in piedmont soil of Bangladesh. In this study, seven treatment combinations including a control treatment were tested, and the treatments were designed taking the micronutrients following the additive element trial technique. The rates of micronutrients were 3 kg zinc (Zn), 2 kg boron (B), 2 kg Cu, 3 kg manganese (Mn), 5 kg iron (Fe), and 1 kg molybdenum (Mo) per hectare. Both Zn and B were found responsive for the first crop. As second crop, okra responded to both residual Zn and B, whereas in the third crop, residual effects of only Zn were reported. Zn fertilizer need not to apply in each crop of a cropping pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 cultivars (cv. 'Boyatiou', 'Veloudo', 'Clemson', and 'Pylaias') were sown on 13 May (1st sowing) and 2 June (2nd sowing). Plants were subjected to three N levels: F1, F2, and F3 (150, 300, and 450 mg N L-1). The 2nd sowing improved flower induction and pod set, without however affecting pod size. The number of seeds per pod was not affected by sowing time, but the mean 100 seed weight was generally lower in the 2nd sowing. In all cultivars, except cv. 'Veloudo' germination increased in the 2nd sowing mainly as a result of lower seed hardness. Germination was also improved by increasing N levels, or by seed storage, acid scarification, or seed priming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compositions, molecular characteristics, and rheological properties of the water-extractable polysaccharides from okra were investigated. The proportions of galacturonic acid and monosaccharides in the refined polysaccharides were 62.47% and 13.47%, respectively. The molecular weight distribution of 717.5 kDa in the crude polysaccharides was removed through a purification process. Okra polysaccharides were pseudo-plastic fluids exhibiting shear thinning behavior. The refined polysaccharides had a higher apparent viscosity (332.15 mL g-1) than the crude polysaccharides (294.69 mL g-1), and exhibited a positive linear correlation with the logarithm of the zero shear viscosity between 1.0% and 4.0%, showed an elastic behavior at a stress of 1 Pa over the frequency range of 1-10 rad/s. When the concentration reduced below 2.0%, the refined polysaccharides showed a predominantly viscous response over the same frequency range. The rheology was greatly affected by their concentrations, indicating waterextractable okra polysaccharides have great potential as a thickening agent in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 with 85% ethanol, the botanical M. lucida tissues extracted with 80% ethanol, and M. lucida tissues extracted with 90% ethanol produced the highest total phenolic, total flavonoid, flavonol, and tannin contents, respectively. The highest phytate and oxalate contents were okra treated with the botanical Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) tissues extracted with water at 90%. The highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl content and total antioxidant capacity were in okra treated with M. lucida tissues extracted with 90% ethanol and M. lucida tissues extracted with water at 90%, respectively; okra treated with the botanical V. amygdalina tissues extracted with water at 85% had the highest ferric reducing power and metal chelating activity. Most botanicals supported high yield/plot. The effect of pesticide on nutrient composition of okra varied, with most botanicals producing higher nutritional values and yield. These botanicals appear to be beneficial for pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through analysing survey data collected from 300 vegetable growers located in the south-eastern hilly districts of Bangladesh, this article identifies drivers of production and technical efficiency in okra and eggplant production. The estimated efficiency scores reveal that around 67% and 99% of the production in okra and eggplant, respectively, are lost due to inefficiency factors. Among different production inputs, land has the highest production elasticity. Land fragmentation and land slope are positively associated with inefficiency, whereas extension service, rented in land and credit have negative associations. Compared to the lager farmers, the smaller are relatively efficient. Efficiency level is also sensitive to ethnicity, annual income, education and farming practices. The important policy outcomes of the study are: land reform to ensure land entitlement; land consolidation and farmers’ organizations for better access to land; off-farm employment creation; and investment in extension service, especially for the indigenous people and for diffusion of the soil preservation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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 considerably enhanced N, P, K, B, and Mo uptake by 5, 19, 3, 4, and 15%, respectively, over their non-AMF counterparts. Likewise in pea, a higher amount of N (10%), P (26%), K (7%), Fe (7%), Cu (38%), Zn (20%), Mn (4%), B (7%), and Mo (13%) uptake was registered through AMF inoculation over their non-AMF counterparts. Application of soil-test-based P dose from 50% to 100% P also resulted in significant and consistent improvement in N, P, K, B, and Mo uptake both in okra and pea and in Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe uptake in pea crop. Magnitude of increase in Ca content was to the tune of 13 and 4%, respectively, in okra fruits and pea pods following AMF inoculation, whereas crude protein content enhanced by 4% each in both the crops. Overall, the current study demonstrates the important role of AMF in nutrient enrichment and quality enhancement of okra and pea crops in acid Alfisol, besides considerable reduction in investment on chemical fertilizers. Results of current study suggest that AMF use in Himalayan production systems is of tremendous significance to harvest nutritionally-rich farm produce for Himalayan communities suffering from malnutrition especially anemia and Zn deficiency, and equally to resource-poor Himalayan farmers who ill-afford expensive external inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed at preparing and optimizing an activated carbon (OAC) obtained from dry okra wastes by chemical activation with zinc chloride. Also, Rhodamine B removal performance from aqueous solution was analyzed by using this optimized activated carbon. The characterization of the resultant activated carbon, with a high surface area of 1044 m2/g, was carried out using thermogravimetric analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller model, t-plot, N2adsorption/desorption isotherms, density functional theory, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and the point of zero charge. Furthermore, the effects of operating conditions (contact time, initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, temperature, and pH) on Rhodamine B adsorption onto OAC were investigated. Langmuir model was determined to be the best adsorption process, and the maximum adsorption capacity was calculated to be 321.50 mg/g at 25°C. Also, the intraparticle diffusion and boundary layer diffusion were involved in RhB adsorption onto OAC. Moreover, OAC adsorption curves of Rhodamine B followed pseudo second-order model. At 25°C, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy obtained from thermodynamic studies were determined to be −27.87 kJ/mol, 13.03 kJ/mol, and 0.15 kJ/mol K, respectively. These thermodynamic values revealed that Rhodamine B adsorption onto OAC was feasible, endothermic, physical, and spontaneous. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Compositions, molecular characteristics, and rheological properties of the water-extractable polysaccharides from okra were investigated. The proportions of galacturonic acid and monosaccharides in the refined polysaccharides were 62.47% and 13.47%, respectively. The molecular weight distribution of 717.5 kDa in the crude polysaccharides was removed through a purification process. Okra polysaccharides were pseudo-plastic fluids exhibiting shear thinning behavior. The refined polysaccharides had a higher apparent viscosity (332.15 mL g−1) than the crude polysaccharides (294.69 mL g−1), and exhibited a positive linear correlation with the logarithm of the zero shear viscosity between 1.0% and 4.0%, showed an elastic behavior at a stress of 1 Pa over the frequency range of 1–10 rad/s. When the concentration reduced below 2.0%, the refined polysaccharides showed a predominantly viscous response over the same frequency range. The rheology was greatly affected by their concentrations, indicating water-extractable okra polysaccharides have great potential as a thickening agent in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]