This document provides information on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), including its botanical name, family, origin in South Africa, and chromosome number. It discusses 10 Abelmoschus species, their somatic chromosome numbers, and distributions in various parts of Asia and Africa. The document outlines okra germplasm collections in India, identified promising okra lines for various attributes, breeding objectives and programs, insect pests, diseases, floral biology, hybrid seed production methods, and nationally released okra hybrids.

2. Botanical name : Abelmoschus esculentus
Family : Malvaceae
Origin : South Africa
Chromosome no 2n = 72 to 144 (poly ploidy)

3. It is a tropical and sub tropical lowland regions of Africa,
Asia, America and warmer temperate region of the
Mediterranean.
A.Tuberculatus - one of the ancestors of okra occurring in India
has nine wild taxa of which A. esculentus is popularly grown for
pod production.
A.Tetraphylus - 18 old land races have been developed in this
species in India.
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

4. • Its origin Is tropical Asia andAfrica.
• The main region of cultivation and diversity of okra in
India, Srilanka,Pakistan,Nepal,Bangladesh.
• Two wild species A. crinitus and A. angulosus are exclusive
origin of Asia.
• A.moschatus is present as wild form in Kerala, Maharashtra,
Tamil nadu, Karnataka and Uttar pradesh.

5. Characteristics of Abelmoschus Species
Abelmoschus Species
Somatic
Chromosome
number
Wild(w)/
Cultivated(c)
A.angulosus 56 W
A.aberculatus 58 W
A.moschatus 72 WC
A.ficulneus 72 W
A.tetraphyllus 138 W
A.tetraphyllus var.pungent 138 W
A.crinitus 9 W
A.callei 196 W
A.manihot 66 WC
A.esculentus 130 C

6. DISTRIBUTION
Abelmoschus Species Distribution
A.angulosus India and Srilanka
A.aberculatus India
A.moschatus India, Nepal and Srilanka
A.ficulneus India and Bangladesh
A.tetraphyllus India, Nepal and Srilanka
A.tetraphyllus var.pungent India, Nepal and Srilanka
A.crinitus India and Srilanka
A.callei India
A.manihot India and Srilanka
A.esculentus Worldwide

7. Germplasm Collections
• IBPGR has degenerated NBPGR with global responsibility of
base collection of Okra.
• Okra Germplasm collection programme is being carried out
mainly through NBPGR New Delhi and Akola in Maharashtra.
• More than 8 specific explorations have already been organized,
explosing and collections from Punjab, Hariyana, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Central and western parts of Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra, South Peninsular tract in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and
Kerala, Eastwards Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Assam plains and
adjoining hilly tracts of North Eastern region.
• The SAU and ICAR institutes have also made contribution to
NBPGR, which holds more than 2,386 accessions of Okra,
represented by 9 spp with maximum variability in A.esculentus.

8. • PUNJAB
• HARIYANA
• RAJASTHAN
• GUJARAT
• MAHARASHTRA
• KARNATAKA
• TAMILNADU
• KERALA
• ANDHRAPRADESH
• ORISSA
• ASSAM
Germplasm Collections

9. Breeding Programmes in Okra
• Besides NBPGR, major centres includes IIVR (Varanasi),
IIHR (Bangalore), PAU (Ludhiana), GAU (Junagarh), KAU
(Trissur), OUAT (Bhubaneshwar).

10. Identified PROMISING LINES of Okra for
various attributes
Early flowering IC-128062,11479,117218
Ec-325356,329370
Long duration fruiting IC-264697,2647
EC-305749,306741
Resistant to damping- off,
Rhizoctonia solani
Red Ghana,sel7-1,BH-27,IC12096
Resistant to Powedry mildew Nigeria,EC32598,IC8248,
A.tetraphyllus,A.angulosus.
Resistant to Cercospora blight Sel-7-1,Round selection,EC-
32598,A.crinitus,A.moschatus,A.a
ngulosus.
Resistant to Fusarium wilt IS-9273,Pusa Sawani, Pusa
Makhmli.
Resistant to leaf curl virus A.ficulnes,A.manihot.

11. Contd….
Resistant to microphomina IC-90186,U-43087,U4365
Resistant to yellow vein mosaic
virus
A.Manihot ssp. Parbhani kranti
punjab padmini IC-1542,ACC-49,
NIC-9303A
Resistant to jassid IC7194,Sesswal
Local,IIHR21,AE30 Crimson
Smooth
Resistant to fruit-borer A.tuberculatus,Red-I, Pusa
Sawani, long Green
Resistant to nematode Long Green Smooth
Tolerant to mite A.angulosus.

12. Breeding Objectives
There is a strong need to build-up adaptability
To develop high-yielding hybrids capable of giving more marketable
yield of dark green, tender, thin, medium-long, smooth and optimum
seed setting ability.
Pods should be free from conspicuous hairs.
Tobreed early-maturing hybrids with a prolonged harvesting period.
Toevolve hybrids resistant to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus(YVMV),
Fusarium wilt, Cercospora leaf spot, Powdery mildew, etc.,

13. Breeding Objective
• Tocombine resistance to Yellow vein mosaic virus with resistance to fruit
and shoot borer, white fly, jassid and root knot nematode.
• Todevelop most suitable ideotype short plants and more number of nodes with
short internodes length would be more productive than tall plant with long
internodal length.
• Toevolve hybrids tolerant to abiotic stresses.
• Todevelop hybrids suitable for processing industry and export
markets.

14. Insect Pests
Nematodes
Fruit borer
Jassids

15. Diseases
Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus
Disease
Cercospora leaf spotPowdery mildew

16. Botany and Floral Biology

17. • Plant : Erect, herbaceous annual, 1-2 m tall.
• Leaves : Alternate, 3-7 lobed, hirsute and serrate.
• Flower : Solitary, axillary with long peduncle.
• Epicalyx : Long, narrow hairy bracteoles.
• Calyx : Splits longitudinally as the flower open.
• Petals : 5 cm, yellow with crimson spot on claw.
• Stamens : Staminal column is united to base of petals with
numerous stamens.

18. • Ovary : Superior.
• Fruit : Capsule.
• Stigma receptivity : on the day of flower opening.
• Pollen viability : 55 days (in storage at 50% RH).
• After pollination it takes 2-6 hrs for fertilization.
• Protogyny : Allogamy.
-but out cross through insect can be 19%

19. METHODS OF HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION
• Hand emasculation and pollination:
Female line buds (a day prior to anthesis)
Slight ring cut at the base
Remove the anthers with care
Bag them
In male line tie the bud a day prior to anthesis.

20. POLLINATION
• Pollen from freshly opened bud which are previously
bagged from the male parent line is collected in the
morning.
• Pollen is dusted directly on stigma of the emasculated
flower of the female parent with the help of camel hair
brush.
• For selfing cover the individual flower with the butter paper
bags.

21. Method of seed production
 Seed to seed
Stages of seed production
Breeder seed
Foundation seed
Certified seed

22. Distance between male and female: 5 metres

24. Morphogenetic Charecters of bhendi
hybrid parents

25.  Materials required for emasculation and pollination
For emasculation of flower bud, forceps and needles are required, while plastic
container, pollen ring, scissors and brush are needed for pollen extraction from anthers and for
pollination work.
 Hand emasculation
The removal of androecium (stamens) from bisexual flower is called as emasculation.
The buds opened next day, were selected in female parent and emasculation was carried out by
removing the androecium along with the corolla. These emasculated buds were covered with
butter paper pockets to avoid cross pollination and also for easy identification of emasculated
flower for pollination. The emasculation was carried out daily from 2-00 to 6-00 pm (Plate 3).
Care was also taken to remove the unemasculated flowers as per treatment and during
emasculation to avoid genetic contamination in the crossed ones.
Hand emasculation and Hand pollination

27. The transfer of pollen from male parent to female parent is called as pollination. The
just opened flowers were picked from the male parent in a separate brown paper pockets and used
for crossing of emasculated flowers.
One male flower was used to pollinate four, six, eight and ten female emasculated buds
as par the treatments and after crossing different colour thread was tied to the pedicel of the
crossed buds for easy identification of the crossed bud. Pollination was carried out daily between
8-00 am to 4-00 pm depending upon the treatments (Plate 4). The crossing was carried out for a
period of eight weeks from the initiation of flowering. The buds and flowers that appeared
subsequently after the stopping of crossing programme were manually removed to facilitate
better development of the crossed fruits and to avoid the selfed seeds in the hybrid.
Pollination

28. NATIONAL RELEASED HYBRIDS
• AOH-262
Developed at GAU, Anand.
Each plant bears 10 fruits with average weight of 11grams.
Average yield- 780 q/ha.
• AOH- 263
Developed by GAU,Anand. Resistant to YVMV.
Average yield- 834 q/ha.
• DUR-2(Shitla Uphar)
Cross between PDIB-1 and PDIB-3 Developed by IIVR, Varanasi.
Average yield- 860 q/ha.

29.  DUR-1(Shitla Jyothi)
PDIB-12 and PDIB-1.
Suitable for both rainy and summer season.
Resistant to YVMV and Leaf Curl Virus.
 VARSHA
Developed by Indo-American hybrid seed,Bangalore.
Tall, early maturing. Tolerant to YVMV.
 VIJAY
Developed by Indo-American hybrid seed. Dwarf compare to VARSHA.
Its also tolerant to YVMV.

30.  Nazuk:-
Nazuk is a high yielding hybrid with moderate tolerance to Yellow Vein
Mosaic Virus. The first picking starts from 45-50 days and the fruits are
tender, dark green, 12 – 14 cm long.
Some okra hybrid variety
 Taja:-
Taja offers fruits of exceptional quality with good yield. The first
picking starts from 45 – 47 days after sowing and the fruits are
slender,shiny dark green in colour. The fruits also keep well for 12-15
days. The hybrid is moderately tolerant to Yellow Vein MosaicVirus.

31.  Purna:-
Purna is highly tolerant to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus(YVMV) disease.
The hybrid is a high yielder with shorter internodes and produces long (13 cm),
green, five ribbed fruits and is suitable for cultivation across the country.
 Jaya:-
Jaya is a high yielding, tall vigourous hybrid. The fruits are medium
long green, tender with five ridges. It is tolerant to Yellow Vein Mosaic
Virus(YVMV) and can be grown all over India.
 Subha:-
An early high yielding hybrid, with tall plants, medium branching and
narrow leaves. The first fruit matures in 38 – 40 days. The fruit are dark green,
tender, of medium girth, 18 – 20 cm in length, five ribbed, smooth and with
good keeping quality. This hybrid is tolerant to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus
(YVMV) disease.

32.  ArkaAnamika:-
A Government Notified Variety and is recommended for all India
cultivation. The fruits are 15 – 20 cm long, lush green, cylindrical
tapering with light reddish shades, coarse surface with 5 ridges. It is a
good yielder.
 Dhaanya Selection Saloni:-
Saloni is a high yielding, moderately tolerant to yellow vein
mosaic virus variety and is recommended for all India cultivation. The
fruits are long, tender, and green with five ridges.
 Hybrids:CO2 (AE 180XPUSASEWANI)CO3 (PRABHARIKRANTI
X MDU1),Mahyco hybrid, Shoba and Prabhanikranti.
 Varieties : Co.1, MDU.1, Parbhani Kranti, Arka Anamika, Pusa A-4,
Pusa Sawani

33. Varieties relesed by JAU
1. GO-3:
National level in Zone VII & VIII for kharif season
Fruit yield : 8668 kg/ha in Zone–VII
Fruit yield : 12725 kg/ha in Zone–VIII
The fruit are smooth, green, tender and attractive in colour.
Year of release: 2006-07.
33

34. 2. GJOH-2 :
National level in Zone II, IV, VI, VII & VIII and
Kharif okra growing areas of Saurashtra, Middle &
South Gujarat
The variety GJOH-2 showed 23.33 and 39.92 per
cent higher green fruit yield over GJOH-1 and Pusa
Sawani, respectively at Junagadh during kharif
2003-2008.
The average yield of the fruit is 14836 kg/ha.
Year of release: 2008-09.
34

35. 3. GJO-3 :
Kharif okra growing areas of
Saurashtra, South Gujarat
The variety possesses green, tender and
attractive fruits.
The average fruit yield is 15052 kg/ha.
Year of release: 2009-10.
35

36. 4. GJOH-3 :
National level in Zone V, VI & VII and kharif okra
growing area of Gujarat state
The hybrid GJOH-3 is recommended for cultivation
in kharif okra growing area of Gujarat state due to its
yield superiority (13744 kg/ha).
The fruit is dark green colour and tender with higher
protein (1.15%) and ascorbic acid content (6.3
mg/100g).
The hybrid showed lesser incidence of YVMV
(24.2%).
The hybrid was tested already been released under
AICRIP programme for Zone V, VI and VII of India.
Year of release: 2010-11.
36

37. Gujarat Junagadh Okra Hybrid 4 -GJOH 4
1 Name of crop Okra
2 Botanical name Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench
3 Name of variety Gujarat Junagadh Okra Hybrid
4 (GJOH 4) 4 Parentage with details of its pedigree JF-55 x JOL-2K-19
5 Breeding method Heterosis breeding
6 Year of release 2014-15
7 Gazette notification Awaited
Gujarat Okra 6 (GO 6)
1 Name of crop Okra
2 Botanical name Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench
3 Name of variety Gujarat Okra 6 (GO 6)
4 Parentage with details of its pedigree AOL-03-1 x JOL-2K-19
Year of release 2017-18
Breeding method Hybridization followed by pedigree method of selection.

38. A. General requirements
B. Specific requirements
Field Standards
Sources: IMSCS

42. BENEFITS OF OKRA

43. 1.Very low calorie vegetables. They provide just 30 calories
per 100 g besides containing no saturated fats or cholesterol.
2. rich sources of dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins,
cholesterol controlling and weight reduction.
3. compose healthy amounts of vitamin A, and flavonoid anti-
oxidants such as beta-carotene, xanthin and lutein.

44. 4. the good source of folates; helps decrease the incidence
of neural tube defects in the offspring
5. The gumbo pods are also an excellent source of
anti-oxidant vitamin, vitamin-C, providing about
36% of daily- recommended levels
6. Are rich in B-complex group of vitamins like
niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and
pantothenic acid.

45. 7. Also contain good amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K is
a co-factor for blood clotting enzymes and is required
for strengthening of bones.
8. The pods are also good source of many important
minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese and
magnesium.