Abstract
Two methods for restricting plant height (CCC application and excision of the main shoot apex) were applied to okra cv. ‘Boyiatiou’ with the aim of assisting crop management and optimizing yield. Apex excision 26 or 40 days after transplantation (DAT) effectively restricted plant height, but either had no effect (40 DAT) or reduced the number of side shoots per plant (26 DAT). Moreover, although the length of side shoots increased after apex excision, the number of nodes per side shoot was not affected. Hence pod number and weight was less than in the control (untreated). CCC application (500 and 2000 ppm) reduced plant height due to a reduction in internode length; however, when applied at the time of transplantation (0 DAT) (both concentrations) or 26 DAT (2000 ppm) it also caused a reduction in node number on the main stem. CCC did not affect the number of side shoots or the number of nodes per shoot, and side shoot length decreased due to shorter internode lengths. The number and weight of pods per plant was reduced by 2000 ppm CCC irrespective of the time of application, but was not affected by 500 ppm CCC at 0 DAT (pod number) or 40 DAT (pod weight and number). We conclude that the application of 500 ppm CCC at 40 DAT may aid okra cultivation since it reduces overall plant size (height and diameter) without adversely affecting yield, and may thus assist crop management (e.g. easier hand-harvesting) and permit an increase in plant density.
Highlights
The reduction in plant height by 2000 ppm CCC was similar for all application times (29-32%) and was significantly more than that induced by 500 ppm CCC (15-23%)
Removal of the apex of the main shoot at 26 or 40 days after transplantation (DAT) terminated the growth of the main stem at a height of 50 and 80 cm respectively
Excision of the main shoot apex is the most effective way of restricting plant height. Application of this method at the stages of plant development used in the present experiment is not beneficial because the subsequent induction of side shoots was either inhibited (26 DAT) or not affected (40 DAT), and side shoot length increased, in the first formed side shoots due to an absence of competition, the number of nodes per shoot did not differ from the control
Summary
World production of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [L.] Moench., syn. Hibiscus eculentus L.) is estimated to be about 6.4 million tonnes of which 65% (4.1 million tonnes) is produced in India alone (FaoStat, 2008). Okra is a popular vegetable within the Mediterranean region, production is minor and amounts to only 170,000 tonnes, i.e. about 3% of the world’s total. In Greece, 1366 hectares of land were cultivated with okra in 2009, with a total production of 7,378 tonnes, representing a yield of 5,400 kg ha-1 (Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Greece, 2010). The majority of Greek cultivars are day neutral (Koutsos, 2009), flowering is generally promoted by short days (Arulrajah & Ormrod, 1973). Flowers form singly at the nodes and flower induction is promoted by regular harvest of the young, immature pods, which are considered to have the highest quality (Iremiren et al, 1991)
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