Okra also known by lady's finger or gumbo is the most significant versatile vegetable in the world’s tropical and subtropical climates, well-renowned for its soft and flavorful pods. The complexity in yield improvement of any crop is escalated due to genotype x environment (G × E) interactions. Likewise success in okra improvement is limited by G × E interaction and needs to be determined for use in future decision-making process. Multivariate selection strategies like AMMI and GGE biplots were utilized in this study that graphically depict interrelationships between the tested environments and genotypes with simple visual evaluations of okra hybrids possessing high and stable yield. Whereas MTSI was used to identify okra hybrids with dynamic traits that executes better across varied environmental conditions. A set of 13 traits were accessed in okra 24 hybrids along with 10 parents evaluated under multi-environment trials. Among the selected genotypes, H23 and H10 were promising as they produced elevated and adaptable fruit yield altogether with traits that are favoured much by the farmers. MTSI also confirmed high and desired selection gains in all traits among selected genotypes. Further, agronomic trials to determine best crop management practices of identified superior genotypes can be done to introduce them as improved cultivars for diverse environments.

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We are developing synthetic peptides that non-covalently attach to natural proteins, augmenting their properties and developing novel hybrid functional materials. Using a set of hydrophobic-residue containing collagen-mimetic peptides that self-assemble into nanodiscs, we aim to encapsulate membrane proteins, increase protein hydrogel hydrophobicity, and create novel materials using structural proteins. Preliminary results suggest nanodisc interactions with the reaction center-light harvesting complex I (RC-LH1) could elucidate additional RC-LH1 structural and functional information, useful for the development of next generation solar cells. Furthermore, electron micrographs of nanodiscs embedded in collagen type I (COL I) hydrogels provide evidence for the enhancement of hydrophobic properties of COL I, and the potential for sequestering hydrophobic molecules for drug delivery. Lastly, nanodisc induced assembly of the structural protein tropomyosin is explored with the intent of enhancing the structural properties of COL I hydrogels.