PHYSICO-MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF EXOTIC AND LOCAL OKRA CULTIVARS IN ACID SOIL

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the research field of Department of Crop Botany and Tea Production Technology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet from May to October 2013 with a view to select the superior Okra cultivar in relation to growth and yield attributes in acidic soil conditions. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. A total of 8 cultivars viz. BARI Dherosh-1 (control), Orka Onamika, Bankim, Durga, JO-1, JO-2, JO-3 and JO-4 were evaluated on the basis of growth and yield attributes. Orka Onamika, Bankim and Durga were collected from India while JO1, JO-2, JO-3 and JO-4 were collected from Japan. Significant variations were observed in

case

of all the parameters except the total no. flowers plant . Results revealed that high yielding cultivar Bankim exhibited taller plant at final harvest, produced early flowers, provided the highest fruit setting (%) and the maximum number of fruits plant -1 , and aborted fruits plant -1 -1 The cultivar JO-1 showed superiority in germination capacity and individual fruit weight. The longest fruit length and less fruit abortion were found in Durga, whereas JO-4 showed the highest fruit diameter. The cultivar JO-3 produced higher number of branches plant -1 . Fruits of JO-3 appears attractive with ridge less, slender, uniform size and shape, and was found relatively more tasty due to softness and less fiber content. Regarding fruit yield, the cultivar Bankim, JO-3 and JO-1 performed better. The cultivars Bankim, JO-1 & JO-3 were proved to be promising cultivars in acid soil conditions of Sylhet considering overall performance of morphological and yield attributes.