Evaluation of some okra (Abelmoschus spp L.) germplasm in Ghana

Abstract

Twenty-five accessions of okra collected from different parts of Ghana were evaluated for their horticultural and agronomic attributes in the major and minor cropping seasons of 2008 at the crop and soil sciences experimental field, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The objectives of the experiment were to investigate the horticultural characteristics and performance of all the okra entries. Data collected included fruit and leaf characteristics; Days to first flowering, first flowering node, first fruit-producing node, fresh fruit weight, fruit length at maturity, fruit width, maximum plant height, number of internode, number of seeds per fruit, number of total fruits per plant, seed yield, 100 seed weight. The accessions KNUST/SL1/07Nkrumahene, DA/08/02Dikaba and GH 5787Asontem, GH6102Fetri and 'Asontem' showed number of days from sowing to first-flowering at between 44.00 and 48.00 days, first flowering and fruiting nodes at between 5.00 and 6.00th nodes, days to 50% emergence at 8 days after sowing, the average number to total fruits per plant at 60.00 to 145.00 fruits and green immature fruit colour. The results showed that most of the okra displayed symptoms of okra mosaic virus (OMV) and okra leaf curl virus (OLCV). Fruit size varied among the entries. A correlation of the characters with the total fruit production showed that plant height, days to flowering and nodulation, fruit yield and seed yield recorded positive and significant associations, which generally mean that they influenced fruit production or yield. Specific accessions; KNUST/SL1/07Nkrumahene, DA/08/02Dikaba and GH 5787Asontem, GH6102Fetri and 'Asontem', identified in this study, could be passed on to breeders for utilization in the okra improvement programmes in Ghana.

Comparative Efficacy of Insecticides and their Combinations against Okra Shoot and Fruit Borer, Earias vitella (Fabricius)

“…Okra locally known as Bhendi and Lady's finger worldwide. It is generally a self-pollinating crop belonging to the Malvaceae" [2]. "Okra is referred to as the "Vegetable's Queen."…”

Qualitative and Phenotyping Characterization among Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] Genotypes

“…Okra, or Bhendi [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], is India's most important-vegetable and frequently utilised crop in the Malvaceae family (Mohammed et al, 2022;Reddy et al, 2016). It is also a dicotyledon, warmseason annual vegetable crop with a 90-100 day growing season that survives in tropical and subtropical areas of the globe on sandy to clayey soil (Melaku et al, 2020;Bagwale et al, 2016;Singh et al, 2015), mostly in Africa and Asia (Temam et al, 2021;Oppong-Sekyere et al, 2011).…”

“…Landraces, germplasms, genotypes and local cultivars must be morphologically characterised by vegetable breeders seeking novel trait genes (Reddy et al, 2016). The characterization of genetic resources is the means of selecting, differentiating, or distinguishing accessions depending on their traits (Priyanka, 2014;Oppong-Sekyere et al, 2011). Qualitative trait characterization of newly collected germplasm is necessary for crop improvement.…”

Participatory variety selection of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) genotypes for adaptation to the semi-arid agro-ecology of Northern Ghana

“…Both mesocarp and seeds are excellent sources of zinc (80 mg/g) as well as phenolic compounds with important biological properties like quartering derivatives, catechins, oligomers and hydroxycinnamic derivatives (Glew et al, 1997;Arapitsas, 2008). In Ghana, okra is the fourth most popular vegetable after tomato, pepper and garden egg (Oppong-Sekyere et al, 2012). It is often the vegetable of choice among rural and urban consumers, and even at food joints.…”