This document summarizes information about okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), including its origins in tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas. It describes 10 Abelmoschus species, their somatic chromosome numbers, and whether they are wild or cultivated. It provides details on okra germplasm collections in India and breeding programs at various agricultural institutions. Promising okra lines are identified for traits like early flowering, disease resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance. Production objectives and methods for hybrid seed production are also outlined.

1. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
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.

2. • 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.
• Its origin Is tropical Asia and Africa.
• The main region of cultivation and diversity of okra in
India, Srilanka,Pakistan,Nepal,Bangladesh.

3. 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

4. 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
DistributionAbelmoschus Species

5. 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.
•

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

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. PRODUTION 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.
• To breed early-maturing hybrids with a prolonged harvesting
period.
• To evolve hybrids resistant to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus(YVMV),
Fusarium wilt, Cercospora leaf spot, Powdery mildew, etc.,

11. • To combine resistance to Yellow vein mosaic virus with
resistance to fruit and shoot borer, white fly, jassid and root
knot nematode.
• To develop 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.
• To evolve hybrids tolerant to abiotic stresses.
• To develop hybrids suitable for processing industry and export
markets.

12. Botany and Floral Biology

13. • 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.

14. • 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%

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18.  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.