Breeding of Okra

1. OKRA
Abelmoschus esculentus L.
(Moench)
Family Malvaceae
Genus Abelmoschus
Species esculentus
chromosome number 2n = 130

2. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is an important
vegetable grown for its green tender fruits which
are used as a vegetable in a variety of ways.
It is rich in vitamins, calcium, potassium and other
minerals matter.
It can be fried and cooked with necessary
ingredients.
Matured fruit and stems containing crude fiber
are used in the paper industry.
It is called lady’s finger in England, gumbo in the
United States of America, guino-gombo in Spanish,
guibeiro in Portuguese and bhindi in India.
Importance

3. •Origin and Distribution
• Abelmoschus esculentus is found all around the world from
Mediterranean to equatorial areas.
•There are two hypotheses concerning the geographical origin of
A. esculentus.
1. One putative ancestor (A. tuberculatus) is native to Uttar
Pradesh in northern India.
2. On the basis of ancient cultivation in East Africa and the
presence of the other putative ancestor (A. ficulneus), suggest
that the area of domestication is north Egypt or Ethiopia.
•Cultivated and wild species clearly show overlapping in Southeast
Asia, which is considered as the centre of diversity.
•Eight Abelmoschus species occur in India.
•Out of these, A. esculentus is the only known cultivated species.
•The cultivated okra has somatic chromosome number 2n = 130

4. GENETIC RESOURCE:-
Eight Abelmoschus species occur in India.
Accessions resistance to YVMV are A. manihot, A.
angulosus, A.crinitus, A. vitifolius, A. tuberculatus, A.
panduraeformis, A. pungens and A.tetraphyllus.
 A. manihot ssp. manihot is a good source of
resistance to YVMV and has been widely used in
resistance breeding.
Several varieties of okra showing resistance to
YVMV disease have been developed using wild
species A. manihot (L.) Medikus ssp. Manihot and
the cultivated variety Parbhani Kranti as a source of
resistance.

5. Geographical distribution of Abelmoschus species

6.  It is grown commercially in India, Turkey, Iran,
Western Africa, Yugoslavia, Bangladesh,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Burma, Japan, Malayasia,
Brazil, Ghana, Ethiopian, Cyrpus and the Southern
United States
 India ranks first in the world with a production of
3.5 million tonnes (70% of the total world
production) from over 0.35 million ha land
(FAOSTAT 2008).

7. Classification adopted by IBPGR, 1991
Wild and cultivated forms
1. A. moschatus Medikus- subsp. Moschatus var moschatus
subsp. Moschatus var betulifolius (Mast) Hochr
subsp biakensis (Hochr) Borss
subsp tuberosus (Span) Borss
2. A. manihot (L) Medikus- subsp tetraphyllus (Roxb ex Hornem) Borss
var tetraphyllus - var pungens
3. A. esculentus (L) Moench
Wild forms:
4. A. tuberculatus Pal & Singh
5. A. ficulneus (L) W & A.ex. Wight
6. A. crinitus Wall
7. A. angulosus Wall ex. W, & A
8. A. caillei (A. Chev) Stevels

10. Germplasm Conservation
More than 2,500 accessions of cultivated and wild species
are maintained both as base collection in the National
Genebank at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resouces,
NBPGR, (long-term storage at - 20o C) and as active
collection under medium term storage (4o C) at NBPGR
Regional Station in Akola, Maharashtra.
As per recent International Plant Genetic Resources
Institute (IPGRI) germplasm database, more than 46
institutions in different countries worldwide possess about
11,000 accessions of cultivated okra and wild related
species.

11. Breeding objectives
1. To breed early maturing and late senescing varieties.
2. To evolve high yielding varieties capable of an
increased marketable yield of dark green, tender, long,
smooth pods. High yield of seed would be an added
advantage.
3. To develop varieties/hybrids resistant to virus diseases
such as Okra Mosaic Virus, Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus
(YVMV) and leafcurl; fungal diseases such as vascular
wilt, Cercospora blight, powdery mildew, fruit rot and
damping off, Insect pests such as shoot and fruit borer,
leafhopper, apdhids, whitefly etc.
4. To breed varieties with optimum seed setting ability
for rapid multiplication.

12. 5. To develop varieties suitable for export
market.
6. To evolve varieties and hybrids for wider
adaptability.
7. To develop multiple disease–resistant and
pest resistant varieties, with special
emphasis on combining Yellow Vein Mosaic
Virus resistance with resistance to fruit and
shoot borer.
8. Plants with dwarf height and more number
of nodes and short internodes.

13. Breeding methods
• Introduction: A cultivar from Africa (Ghana)
known as A. manihot sp. manihot introduced
into India has been successfully used as a
source of resistance to YVMV.
• Pure line selection
• Pedigree Method
• Mutation Breeding
• Heterosis breeding

18. Varieties
Salkeerthi
High yielding variety released from the Kerala Agricultural University
(KAU). Attractive, long, light green fruits. Average fruit length is 27 cm
and fruits weigh on an average 28 g. Average yield is 16.2 t/ha.
Kiran
High yielding variety released from KAU by selection from Kilichundan
local. Pods are light green in colour.
Aruna
High yielding variety released from KAU with long red pods. Resistant to
YVMV. Average yield 15.8 t/ha.

19. Susthira
A high yielding perennial type bhindi released from KAU with average
yield of 18 t/ha. It responds well to pruning. Fruits are long and green,
22 cm in length and weighs 24.5 g on an average. It is resistant to
yellow vein mosaic virus and is recommended for rainfed cropping.
Pusa Sawani
Released from IARI, New Delhi. Suitable for cultivating in summer and
rainy season. Fruits are dark green, smooth with 5 ridges and about 10-
12 cm long at the time of harvest. Crop matures within 50 days from
sowing. Average yield is 12-15 t/ha. Susceptible to yellow vein mosaic
virus (YVMV).
Pusa Makhmali
Released from IARI, New Delhi. Variety produces light green fruits.
Highly susceptible to YVMV.
CO-1
High yielding variety released from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University. Red fruited variety suitable for cultivation in Kerala.

20. Arka Anamika
Released from IIHR, Bangalore. Fruits are borne in two
flushes. During first flush, fruits are borne on the main stem
45-50 days after sowing. During second flush, fruits are
borne on short branches, which sprout from the middle
portion of the main stem. Fruits are spineless with 5-6
ridges, delicate aroma and good keeping quality. Resistant to
YVMV. Average yield is 20 t/ha and can be harvested in 130
days.
Arka abhay
Released from IIHR, Bangalore. Fruits are green in colour.
Resistant to YVMV
Punjab no. 13
Released from PAU, Ludhiana. Suitable for cultivating in
spring and summer season. Fruits are light green, 5-ridged
and of medium length. Susceptible to YVMV.

21. Punjab Padmini
Released from PAU, Ludhiana. Fruits are quick growing,
dark green, hairy, 5-ridged and remain tender for a longer
period. Matures within 55-60 days after sowing. Tolerant
to YVMV.
Parbhani Kranti
Released from MKV, Parbhani in Maharashtra. Fruits are
medium-long with tender smooth surface at marketable
stage. Fruits have good keeping quality. Average yield is
8.5-11.5 t/ha and mature within 120 days. Tolerant to
YVMV.

22. Status of Biotechnological Interventions
Shoot and fruit borer i.e. Earias sp. being the most
destructive pest in okra crop, efforts have been made to
develop insect resistant okra varieties by incorporating
cry1Ac gene (Event OE-17A) from Bacillus thuringiensis,
commonly known as Bt okra.
The Bt okra developed by M/s Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds
Company Limited containing cry1Ac gene is under safety
evaluation and confined field trials.
 Among viral diseases, Yellow Vein Mosaic virus being
major disease of okra, attempts are being made by M/s
Arya Hybrid Seeds Ltd., for incorporation of specific genes
such as CP (coat protein) gene and antisense RNA gene for
elevated viral resistance.