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La okra (Hibiscus esculentus) es una planta herbácea anual y hortaliza "no tradicional" de gran valor nutricional y beneficios para la salud. A pesar de su importancia, la falta de información sobre su cultivo en esta región ha llevado a muchos agricultores amazónicos a gestionarla de forma empírica, combinando fertilizantes químicos foliares con abonos orgánicos sin una base científica para determinar la combinación más adecuada. En este contexto, el objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el impacto de la aplicación de compost y gallinaza combinado con fertilizantes químicos foliares Stimufol y Kristalon en el desarrollo de los rasgos morfológicos aéreos del cultivo Hibiscus esculentus, en condiciones de campo, en la región amazónica de Ecuador. El experimento se llevó a cabo en el Centro Experimental de Investigación y Producción Amazónica de la Universidad Estatal Amazónica, utilizando un diseño de bloque completamente al azar con dos factores: fertilización orgánica y fertilización foliar química. Se evaluaron variables morfológicas clave del cultivo, como altura de la planta, diámetro en la base del tallo, número de hojas, longitud del peciolo, longitud y ancho de la hoja. Los resultados demostraron que las plantas tratadas con abono orgánico compost y fertilizante químico Stimufol mostraron un notable incremento en todas las mediciones morfológicas en comparación con los otros tratamientos. Finalmente, la combinación de Stimufol y compost juega un papel esencial en el desarrollo de los atributos morfológicos de la okra, mientras que la falta de este tratamiento no tuvo efecto en dichos atributos.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a sensitive technique used to analyse the structure elucidation, dynamics, reaction state, and chemical environment of molecules. Abelmoschus esculentus and Lagenaria siceraria are edible plants used traditionally to treat jaundice, diabetes, weight loss, ulcer, hypertension, heart failure, skin diseases and reduced cholesterol. Therefore, based on the medicinal uses the study was designed to analyze fingerprinting of metabolites of the seeds of the selected plants. The dry seeds were powdered and the metabolites were extracted by socking method with a mixture of methanol/chloroform. The extracted metabolites from seeds were subjected to proton NMR using the noesygpprld pulse sequence. A total 18 peaks were obtained from each spectrum. Among the peaks, three peaks with the highest intensities were analyzed by utilizing NMR. The peak metabolites were determined with the correlation with the correct peak using in built Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank (BMRB). The results showed that the obtained data varied from known plant metabolites due to the contamination and interaction between the metabolites. In addition, variants in the metabolites from sample to sample may have been the result of errors or limitations in the study. The data generated from this experiment will be used to help to conduct the advanced research in the near future on the selected edible plant species which will be valuable for many different areas of the scientific community. Plant metabolomics has the potential benefit in the medical field, agricultural industry, and many other areas of our economy.

The present investigation was undertaken with the objective to carry out combining ability and heterosis for 13 fruit yield and its attributing traits in 14 parents and their 24 crosses in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) at vegetable research farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana during spring-summer season 2019–20 and rainy (kharif) season 2020–21. Four crosses, viz. HB-20-3-4 × Hisar Naveen (HN), Hisar Mutant (HM)-1 × Hisar Unnat (HU), HBMS-1 × Hisar Unnat (HU) and HB-76-2-4 × Hisar Naveen (HN) showed highly significant positive economic heterosis for yield and its contributing traits.Parents HB-20-3-4 and HM-1 were found to be the best general combiner for most of the economic traits. While, cross HB-60-1 × HN followed by HBMS-1 × HU, HB-20-3-4 × HN, HM-1 × HU and HB-96-2 × HU demonstrated strong SCA effects for yield and its attributes. The ratio of general combining ability (σ2GCA) and specific combining ability variances (σ2SCA) was less than one for all the quantitative traits indicating the non-additive gene effects predominated in determining the expression of all these characters and demonstrates variability in genotypes, which provide ample scope for improvement of yield and its contributing traits in okra. Line HB-60-1 when crossed with Hisar Naveen, and HBMS-1 with Hisar Unnat gave superior hybrids as compared to other crosses. Hence, these parents can be exploited for further genetic improvement programmes and isolation of desirable segregants in okra.

This study was conducted to collect local Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) genotypes belonging to Malvaceae (Mallow) family in the Northern Cyprus and morphological characterization of this collected material. On the other hand, due to the limited studies on collection and morphological characterization, which are the first step of breeding; the genetic potential of the local okra genotypes of Northern Cyprus has not been determined before. This research was carried out in two stages as the collection and morphological characterization of genotypes. In the first stage of the study, it was aimed to collect local okra genotypes and a total of 58 different locations were reached in line with this target and 24 samples of okra genotypes were collected from these areas. In the second year of the study, morphological characterization studies of 24 okra genotypes from the collected genetic material were carried out according to UPOV and IPGR criteria. As a result of morphological characterization showed that 24 okra genotypes can be categorized under 6 different groups. The regenerated seeds of these 6 different genotypes were preserved. In conclusion, although morphological characterization analyses performed in this study are the methods used to differentiate new species from each other, but it will be insufficient alone. Therefore, it is concluded that this method will be used in coordination with molecular characterization studies to provide more reliable results.

A clorofila, molécula responsável pela atividade fotossintética das plantas, pode ser quantificada por métodos diretos e indiretos. O objetivo do estudo foi relacionar os resultados do conteúdo de clorofila obtidos por diferentes métodos de determinação em folhas de quiabo. Foi estimado o conteúdo de clorofila através do índice SPAD (não-destrutivo) e da extração dos pigmentos foliares com acetona (destrutivo). As análises foram realizadas em folhas de quiabo (cultivar Santa Cruz 47) do terço médio de plantas no estágio reprodutivo com coloração variando de amarela a verde escuro, em condição de sequeiro. Determinações pelo método não destrutivo foram realizadas com equipamento SPAD-502 e as determinações por método destrutivo foram realizadas por espectrometria, utilizando acetona como extrator. Foi realizada análise descritiva, correlação e regressão nos dados. O índice SPAD variou de 20,93 a 49,03, e apresentou correlação linear com o conteúdo de pigmentos foliares. O índice SPAD apresentou correlação positiva com os teores de clorofila b e clorofila total, entretanto para o conteúdo de clorofila a foi observado relação negativa. A variação do conteúdo de carotenoides não apresentou relação direta com o índice SPAD. A estimativa do conteúdo de clorofila por método não destrutivo apresenta relação direta com o conteúdo absoluto em folhas de quiabo.

Effect of the application of individual and combination of vermicompost, NPK along with H2O2 was studied on 10, 20, 30, and 40 days old seedlings of Abelmoschus esculentus. The physio chemical characters of soil with vermicompost showed better result and it has all kinds of nutrient needed for the better growth of the crop. It increases soil fertility, crop production and nutrient content of the plants. Integrated fertilizer application will boost the crop and this is the best way to obtain better results and it will decrease the pollution load on our environment. Application of H2O2 also influences the germination, early plant growth and nutrient content. It act as a growth promoter, but the continuous application and accumulation leads to damages, and the disease resistance against pathogens was decreased during the reproductive stages.

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.

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is an important vegetable of which India is the leading producer, but its yield potential is hampered due to Bhendi Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (BYVMV) disease and insect pests like whitefly, leafhopper, and shoot and fruit borer. The present study was done to identify the stable sources of resistance. Total 44 accessions of 6 wild Abelmoschus species and 2 check cultivars of A. esculentus (Pusa Sawani and Pusa A-4) were screened under natural field conditions at Division of Vegetable Science, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi during kharif season 2015. Both the check varieties were found susceptible to BYVMV, Jassids, whiteflies, and shoot and fruit borer. Out of 44 accessions of 6 wild Abelmoschus species, 3 accessions, viz. IC306722, IC90476-1 and IC141055 were found highly resistant to BYVMV, only two accessions, viz. IC141055 and IC140986 were resistant to Jassids and only one accession 141055 was resistant to whiteflies. While all the accessions of A. tuberculatus and more than 50% of the accessions of A. manihot var. tetraphyllus and A. moschatus were found resistant to fruit borer. However, one of the wild accession IC141055 showed multiple resistance, i.e. Jassids, whiteflies and fruit borer along with resistance to BYVMV disease indicated its possible importance as source of multiple biotic stress resistance. The mentioned promising accessions can be further screened at different hotspots for confirmation and can be exploited in future breeding programmes for okra improvement.

Introducción. El crecimiento, la producción y la calidad de okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) están relacionados con la aplicación de fertilizantes, siendo el nitrógeno (N) el que más destaca, debido a la relación directa con la fotosíntesis y crecimiento vegetativo de la planta. Objetivo. El objetivo fue evaluar las características agronómicas y de productividad de okra en función de la dosis de N. Materiales y métodos. El estudio se realizó en el área experimental Campus Gurupi, de la Universidad Federal de Tocantins (UFT), Brasil, en dos períodos de siembra (otoño/invierno y primavera/verano). El diseño experimental utilizado fue bloques al azar (DBC), con seis tratamientos (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 y 250 kg N ha-1) y cuatro repeticiones. Se utilizó urea como fuente de N. Las características evaluadas fueron: productividad, masa media del fruto, altura e índice de clorofila de la planta. Resultados. La productividad y la altura de la planta resultaron superiores en el cultivo de otoño/invierno. La masa media e índice de clorofila no sufrieron influencia por el período de siembra. Para la productividad, se obtuvo una respuesta lineal en aumento de la dosis hasta el límite de la dosis de N utilizada (250 kg ha-1), con valor medio superior a 14 t de fruto. La masa media y la altura de la planta respondieron linealmente al aumento de la dosis de N. El nitrógeno afectó el índice de clorofila, con valores máximos de 45,96 y 47,19, observados en los dos periodos de evaluación. Conclusión. La época de siembra y el contenido de N en el suelo interactuaron con la altura de la planta, siendo favorable en el periodo que no hubo precipitación. El N influyó en todas las características, lo que demuestra la importancia de la fertilización nitrogenada en el desarrollo de las plantas de okra.

In this study total twenty seven gram negative NaCl tolerant rhizobacterial strains were isolated from disturbed soils of Lucknow districts. The 3 selected sampling sites were Bijnor, Pasi Quila and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Campus, Lucknow, India. The isolates have been investigated for different plant growth promoting and biochemical activities. Based on morphological and biochemical tests the total eight (8) rhizobacterial strains were designated as Pseudomonas spp. Among PGP traits, all 8 Pseudomonas strains were examined for Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) production activity. The bacterialisolate IAA4 produces maximum 21.16±3.24 μg mL-1 of IAA at 100 μg mL-1 tryptophan concentration among Pseudomonas strains. This strain show excellent P solubilization and N fixatation in qualitative assay. The higher amount of NaCl salt in soils positively reduces paddy plant physiology and growth parameters. The IAA4 inoculation in okra seeds significantly (P<0.001) improved plant growth parameters, green pigments and modulate antioxidant activities under pot experimental study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed companies increasingly need to obtain reliable results on seed vigor. Therefore, the objective was to verify the efficiency of the respiratory activity measurement, by the CO2 released, to classify the vigor of okra seed lots. For this, five seed lots of okra cv. "Santa Cruz 47" were used. In order to determine seed physiological quality, the following tests were performed: germination, seedling emergence, emergence speed index, shoot length, total dry matter, potassium leaching, electrical conductivity and respiratory activity. Mean values of germination and vigor were compared by Tukey's test. Respiratory activity was correlated with germination and other vigor tests by the Pearson's correlation. The results indicate that CO2 measurement is a promising method to identify vigor differences between okra seed lots.

Os testes de germinação e de vigor são componentes essenciais do processo de controle de qualidade das empresas produtoras de sementes, e o teste de envelhecimento acelerado é um dos mais utilizados para avaliação do vigor de sementes. Nesse sentido, a pesquisa teve como objetivo estudar a metodologia do teste de envelhecimento acelerado, visando à identificação de diferentes níveis de vigor de lotes de sementes de quiabo (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). Para isso, quatro lotes de sementes da cultivar 'Colhe Bem' e cinco lotes da cultivar 'Santa Cruz 47' foram submetidos às seguintes avaliações: germinação, emergência de plântulas, envelhecimento acelerado tradicional e em solução saturada com NaCl (38 e 41ºC durante 24, 48, 72 e 96 horas) e grau de umidade no início dos testes e após a incubação para o teste de envelhecimento acelerado. Os testes de envelhecimento acelerado tradicional e em solução saturada com cloreto de sódio, a 41ºC durante 96 horas, constituem em opções promissoras para detectar diferenças de vigor entre lotes de sementes de quiabo.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the relative effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). The experiment consisted of four treatments. Cow dung and poultry droppings were applied at the rates of 2.5 kg per 10 kg of soil one week before sowing, while NPK fertilizer (15:15:15) was applied at the rate of 6 g per 10 kg of soil three weeks after sowing. The treatments were laid in a completely randomized design with three replications. Plant growth was assessed using plant height, fresh weight, leaf area and dry weight. The application of cow dung, poultry droppings and NPK fertilizer had significant effects on all the parameters assessed. The application of poultry droppings gave plants with the greatest plant height, leaf area and fresh weight, while cow dung application gave the greatest dry weight. The data obtained from these treatments were significantly higher than the data obtained from the control. It was, therefore, concluded that the use of organic manure in the production of vegetables like okra should be encouraged.

Yellow vein mosaic disease (YVMD), which is caused by association of many distinctive mono and bipartite begomoviruses and their satellites is the most devastating disease of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] affecting both pod yield and quality. Since it is very difficult to control the disease properly by chemical means, the only practical remedy of this problem is to develop tolerant/resistant varieties. A lot of work has been done to determine the inheritance of resistance to YVMV in okra and to identify different sources of resistance. For better utilization and improvement of current okra genetic resources, there is a need to understand and appreciate the studies related to resistance source in wild and cultivated species, associated viruses, virus-vector relationship, hot-spots for virus, favourable conditions for disease development, screening methods and breeding strategies. In this review, efforts were made to elucidate the genetics of resistance to YVMV in okra and also to provide complete information regarding sources of resistance.

Thirty diverse genotypes of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) were evaluated during kharif 2013 in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The mature fruits (seven days after anthesis) were analysed for 19 quality traits. Dietary fibre content was recorded maximum in genotype Arka Abhay (0.09 g/g), while genotype USDO 2546 was found good source of dietary fibre (0.09 g/g) as well as protein (2.75%). Mucilage content was found maximum in genotype Punjab Padmini (6.10 %) and least mucilage was recorded in genotype DOV 26 (3.35%). Maximum iron content was recorded in genotype DOV 66 (1.71ppm) followed by DOV 27 (1.60ppm) and DOV 24 (1.53ppm). However, high calcium content was recorded in Arka Abhay and DOV 23. Genotype P 7 (13.33µg/g), DOV 2 and DOV 4 (i.e. 13.04 µg/g each) were found high in ascorbic acid. Total leaf carotenoid content was maximum in Pusa A 4 (3.35 mg/g). Total leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid content was maximum in Pusa A 4 (3.35 mg/g and 3.06 mg/g, respectively). Based on Mahalanobis D2 analysis 30 genotypes were grouped into 7 divergent clusters. Cluster VII had maximum (7) genotypes followed by cluster III and V (6 genotypes in each). Maximum inter cluster distance (6.44) was recorded between genotypes of cluster IV and VII. Cluster IV recorded maximum cluster mean for sugar (5.36%), ascorbic acid content (11.42 mg/g), ash content (1.57%), protein content (2.54%) and Mn content (0.29ppm). In principal component analysis of morphological traits, a total of 82.33% variability was contributed by 7 principal components out of 20 principal components.

Background: The rapid assessment of biodiversity making use of surveys of local knowledge has been successful for different biological taxa. However, there are no reports on the testing of such tools for sampling insect fauna. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different ethnobiological techniques for rapid sampling of insect fauna. Methods: Field research for the conventional survey of insect fauna was conducted on a private farm (9 ° 43'38.95 "S, 37 ° 45'11.97" W), where there was intensive cultivation of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench)). The survey of local entomological knowledge was conducted among all the producers of okra living in the rural villages Pereira, Santa Luzia, and Nassau de Souza, within the Jacaré Curituba irrigated settlement scheme. The combined use of the techniques "free list" and projective interviews was analyzed, using two types of visual stimuli: stock photos and an entomological box. Results: During the conventional survey of insect fauna, the species Bemisia tabaci biotype B, Aphis gossypii, Phenacoccus sp., Icerya purchasi and Lagria villosa were the primary pests found in the okra crop. Regarding the survey of insect pests, the results were convergent in both techniques (conventional sampling and free list). Comparing the interview with visual stimuli (pictures) and specimen witnesses (entomological box) revealed that the latter was more effective. Conclusion: Techniques based on the recording and analysis of local knowledge about insects are effective for quick sampling of pest insects, but ineffective in sampling predator insects. The utilization of collected insects, infested branches, or photos of the symptoms of damage caused by pests in projective interviews is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify the defoliating lepidopterans and their parasitoids occurring on okra plants in the district of Riberão Preto city (SP. Brazil). Caterpillars were collected by hand from an experimental field of okra, in March and April, 2009. They were placed individually on Petri dishes lined with wet filter paper, containing shredded okra leaves, and kept in a climactic chamber (25±1°C, 12:12h light/dark photoperiod, RH 70±10%) until the emergence of lepidopterans and/or parasitoids. In all, 63 lepidopterans were obtained: three species of Noctuidae, Anomis flava (Fabricius), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) and Pseudoplusia includens (Walker); one of Pieridae, Ascia monuste orseis (Godart), and an unidentified species of Tortricidae. One unidentified tachinid fly (Diptera) and the Hymenoptera parasitoids Copidosoma floridanum (Ashmead) (Encyrtidae) and Euplectrus sp. (Eulophidae) emerged from A. flava, while C. floridanum and an unidentified tachinid, from P. includens. This is the first report of an association between the herbivores S. frugiperda, P. includens and A. monuste orceis, the parasitoids C. floridanum and Euplectrus sp. on okra plants.Este estudo objetivou identificar lepidópteros desfolhadores e seus parasitoides em cultura de quiabo em Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. As lagartas foram coletadas através de catação manual entre março e abril de 2009, individualizadas em placas de Petri forradas com papel filtro umedecido contendo pedaços de folhas de quiabo e mantidas sob condições controladas (25±1°C, 12 horas de fotofase, 70±10% de UR) até a obtenção dos adultos de lepidópteros e/ou de seus parasitoides. Foram obtidos 63 adultos de lepidópteros: três espécies de Noctuidae, Anomis flava (Fabricius), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), uma de Pieridae, Ascia monuste orseis (Godart) e uma de Tortricidae não identificada. Uma espécie não identificada de taquinídeo (Diptera) e os Hymenoptera parasitoides Copidosoma floridanum Westwood (Encyrtidae), Euplectrus sp. (Eulophidae) emergiram de A. flava e, C. floridanum e uma espécie não identificada de taquinídeo, de P. includens. Este é o primeiro relato da associação entre S. frugiperda, P. includens e A. monuste orceis e seus parasitoides C. floridanum e Euplectrus sp. em plantas de quiabo.

Productivity of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus(L) Moench] can be affected by sowing date and/or cultivar. Field experiments were conducted in the tropical rain forest zone of Nigeria to investigate effects of sowing date on leaf growth, pod yield, and fruiting duration of okra cvs. NHae47-4, LD88, and Jokoso. Early sowing supported development of more leaves/plant than normal or late sowing. Highest leaf area (LA) was from regular and late-sown plants in the first year. In the second year, highest LA was from early sown plants. The dwarf cv. Jokoso had the highest leaf area index (LAI) with early sowing in the second year. The cv. NHae47-4 attained first flowering 6 and 7 days earlier than ‘LD 88’ and ‘Jokoso’. Days to 50% flowering was not affected by cultivar or sowing date. With early sowing, cv. NHae47-4 attained first pod harvests in 59 days; cvs. LD 88 and Jokoso attained first pod harvests in 67 and 70 days, respectively. Harvesting lasted for 43 days with early sowing and 37 and 26 days for regular and late sowing, respectively. Number of pods/plant and pod yield were highest with early sowing. Okra leaf growth and pod yield may be improved with early sowing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) cv. 'Balady,' that is monocropped over 5-6 months in Upper Egypt usually grows slowly in the first 5-7 weeks. There is no information available on whether a secondary summer vegetable can be produced within main crop okra rows. In the present study, okra was planted on April 1, 2004 and April 7, 2005 at 40 cm within-row spaces on 70-cm wide rows. Cowpea or cucumber was planted at mid-distance between okra hills either simultaneously with okra (April 1, 2004 and April 7, 2005) or later after growing okra (April 27, 2004 and April 28, 2005). Sole crop treatments were also involved. Data indicated that okra-cowpea intercropping did not affect okra pod yield. Cowpea, on average, produced 257 kg·ha,sup>-1>/sup> dry seed yield when planted simultaneously or 3 weeks after planting okra. Calculated “aggressiveness” indicated that okra was the dominant crop. Land equivalent ratio (LER) of okra-cowpea intercropping was, on average, 1.2 for both years. With regard to cucumber, fruit yield was produced only when it was planted simultaneously with okra. Okra-cucumber intercropping based on simultaneous planting of both crops depressed okra pod yield to 90% of its monocropped yield. Intercropped cucumber yield as percent of sole culture was 60%. “Aggressiveness” showed that cucumber was the dominant crop. LER of okra-cucumber intercropping, on average, was 1.5 when both crops were simultaneously planted. doi:10.1300/ J512v13n02_04 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Fruit concealed by several plant parts are often overlooked during harvest in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench), causing significant reductions in marketable yield. Effects of plant traits contributing to marketable fruit being missed during harvest were tested in 15 okra cultivars having different plant architectures. Significant correlations between the percentage of overlooked fruit (POF) and several traits were found. There were significant correlations between POF and leaf area, numbers of lateral branches, plant height, number of nodes/ plant and internode length. Correlations between POF and plant height and internode length were negative. Fruit diameter, length, and weight; fruit weight/plant and fruit number/plant; petiole length; and stem diameter were not related to POF. The calculated bias and the coefficient of determination revealed that leaf area accounted for 62% of the variability observed for POF among cultivars; while internode length accounted for only 9% of variability. These plant traits should be considered in evaluation of cultivars for commercial production and in developing of breeding lines in okra. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] was grown at various highly dense (HD) plant populations for destructive harvest, and compared with control plants grown at spacings of 90 x 23 cm and harvested repeatedly by hand. Our objectives were to identify a HD plant arrangement and an optimum harvest timing to maximize marketable fruit yield per hectare with a single destructive harvest, and to evaluate the potential for regrowth of cut plants followed by one or more subsequent harvests. Within HD treatments, marketable fruit weight per hectare tended to increase as the plant population density increased. Spacings of 30 x 30 cm and wider were not dense enough for the destructive harvest system due to a low marketable yield potential. Wide spacings did favor regrowth of cut plants in two experiments, but total marketable yields were still highest with the highest plant populations tested. Delaying destructive harvest until many overmature fruit were present did not consistently affect marketable fruit yield, but always decreased the proportion (by weight) of marketable fruit to total harvested fruit. Overall, percentages of marketable yield obtained by destructive harvests of plots with HD plant populations were low relative to the cumulative marketable yield from control plots. The lack of concentrated fruit set in okra remains a limiting factor for destructive harvest. However, the labor-saving potential of this system should stimulate further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifteen selected okra varieties consisting of ten newly-developed lines and five established varieties were evaluated for stability of seed yields in eight different environments i.e. several monthly plantings for three consecutive years. Seed yield data were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of using different planting dates in seed yield trials of new okra varieties. The wide ranges of environmental indices (-10.8 to 24.4) and seed yield (2.7 to 38.0 g plant-1) indicated significant variation between the environments even though the trials were conducted at the same location. A regression method of stability analysis showed that the mean differences between environments, the varieties and their interactions were highly significant. These results suggest that where limited resources prevent the use of several locations, different dates of planting for two or more years could be used to evaluate okra varieties for seed yield without losing much information on their relative ranking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]