Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench)
commercially cultivated in India.  India is the largest
producer of okra in the world, which contributes about 4%
of total vegetable consumption in most developing countries
(Eftal Duzyanman, 1997). Okra is extensively cultivated
during the spring-summer (March-June) and rainy (July-
September) seasons for its green tender fruits.  Okra is
increasing in popularity. The rapid expansion of okra
processing by freezing and canning in the last three decades
has been responsible for the increase of commercial okra
production, as well as the development of suitable cultivars
such as Louisiana Green Velvet. The ideal fruit type for
freezing should be short, dark green, round or multifaceted
(Sistrunk et al, 1960). Canned okra requires colour
retention, low mucilage content and low fiber content
(Woodroof and Shelor, 1958).

During the last 25 years a good deal of efforts have
been made to enrich its genetic variability, and in developing
promising cultivars, namely Arka Anamika and Arka Abhay.
These are adapted to a wide range of agro-climatic
conditions and cropping patterns, possess better fruit yield
and quality combined with Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus
resistance (Dutta, 1990). Germplasm characterization is
essential for selection of distinctly variable characters.
During 1998, the breeding work was initiated at Indian
Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta and

Short communication

Development of novel character in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

M. Pitchaimuthu, O. P. Dutta, V. S. R. K. Krishna Prasad 1 and K. R. M. Swamy
Division of Vegetable Crops

Indian Institute of Horticultural Research
Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Banaglore-560 089, India

E-mail: muthu@iihr.ernet.in

ABSTRACT

Transgressive segregation in the population of IIHR-31-1-2 x Arka Anamika BC
3
 F

1
-F

6 
  generations led to the

development of, various novel characters such as, ridgeless fruits (round fruit) and enhanced nodal productivity
bearing short internodal length in okra selection-1, which was found to be promising for cultivation with high
yield and good fruit quality. It can be grown both during Kharif and summer seasons. Okra selection–1 was also
found to exhibit smooth fruits, high yield potential with sturdy plant habit and field tolerance to fusarium wilt
and YVMV. Due to rapid rate of increase of processing in okra by freezing and canning, Okra selection I may be
an ideal fruit type for freezing because of its short, smooth, dark green and round or multifaceted fruits with
low mucilage content.

 Key words: Novel character, ridgeless, introgression, processing

1Present Address: Principal Scientist, National Research Centre for Onion and Garlic, Rajgurunagar, Pune

available germplasm was characterized and IIHR-31-1-2
was selected [NBPGR, New Delhi, original sources from
Philippines (EC-No-189926)].

Gene introgression was achieved through normal
hybridization between IIHR-31-1-2 and Arka Anamika,
followed by backcrossing with YVMV resistant
commercially cultivated variety Arka Anamika (Fig1.). In
the advanced progenies of BC

3
 F

1
-F

6, 
a recombinant line

having ridgeless fruits, enhanced nodal productivity, shorter
internodal length, smooth fruits and, high yield with sturdy
plant habit was identified. (Fig 2  & 3).  The salient features

Fig 1.  Pedigree of ridge less okra novel line

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 3 (1): 66-67, 2008

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67

of the recombinant line are listed below:

� Plants are short to medium  (75-100 cm), bushy, erect
and well branched

� Short to medium fruit length  (8-10 cm)

� No ribs on the fruit, spineless, lush green, tender,
and are borne in two flushes

� Fruit stalk is long and easy to snap

� Shorter internodal length

� Low fiber and mucilaginous content

� Good cooking and keeping quality

� Suitable for canning and freezing

� Field tolerant to fusarium wilt and YVMV

� Yield 15-20 tonnes /ha in 120-135 days

� Suitable for Kharif and summer season

Fig 2. Ridgeless and normal ridged fruit

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to the Director, NBPGR,
New Delhi for supply of okra germplasm and Director, IIHR
for providing facilities to carry out the research. The help
rendered by  Mr. S.K. Ramakrishna Rao and Mr.
Chickabachanna both Technical officer and field
technicians, Ms. Manjula, Ms. K. Shobha, and Ms. R.
Pushpalatha are thankfully acknowledged.

REFERENCES

Dutta, O.P. 1990, Okra germplasm utilization at IIHR,
Bangalore Report of an International workshop on
Okra genetic resources, held at NBPGR, New Delhi,
India, 8-12 October, pp 114-116.

Eftal Duzyanman 1997. Okra: Botany and Horticulture. p.
41-72. In Horticultural Reviews.  Volume 21, (ed.)
Jules Janick, John Wiley & sons, Inc.

Sistrunk, W. A., Jones, L. G. and Miller J. C. 1960. Okra
pod growth habit.  Proc. Amer. Soc. Hortl. Sci.,76:
486-491.

Woodroof, J. G., and Shelor E. 1958. Okra for processing.
Ga. Agri. Exptl. Stn. Bull., 56:5-51

Fig 3. Selected line bearing ridgeless fruit

(MS Received 14 November 2007, Revised 10 March 2008)

Development of novel character in okra

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 3 (1): 66-67, 2008