Evaluation of Okra Germplasm for Fruit Yield, Quality and Field Resistance to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus

Field experiments were conducted with 941 indigenous and exotic germplasm of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] at the Regional station of National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Thrissur, Kerala from 1999–2001 to identify high yielding okra germplasm coupled with acceptable fruit quality and field resistance to yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV). During the preliminary germplasm evaluation, 62 high yielding accessions were identified and were were subjected to further evaluation in order to confirm the stability of desired traits for which they were selected. As regard to fruit yield per plant, indigenous accession IC 265147 collected from Thrissur district of Kerala performed better than all others did. Fruit colour, pubescence, shape, thickness, mucilage content and taste of fruits were considered together for assessing fruit quality. Based on 1 to 9 point quality score chart the accessions were grouped into four quality groups viz. low, medium, good and excellent. Accessions IC 43735, 43736, 43720, 128088,39137A, 111500 and 265147 recorded high fruit yield per plant coupled with better 'fruit quality hence qualifying themselves for entry into breeding programme. Screening of these germplasm for YVMV field resistance under natural epiphytotic condition revealed that none of the accession was ‘immune’ or ‘highly resistant’, 43 were ‘moderately resistant’, three accessions viz., IC 218887, IC 69286 and EC 305619 were ‘resistant’ and the rest were susceptible. The results also revealed that none of the yellow vein mosaic virus disease resistant accessions were exceptionally high yielding or vice versa.