IMPROVING YIELD AND SEEDS IN OKRA CROP THROUGH INDUCED USEFUL MUTATIONS

Abstract

Cultivation of okra in Egypt is challenged by low yield due to lack of improved cultivars. Gamma irradiated okra seeds can generate genetic variability to improve the crop. Field experiment was carried out in a private farm at Sidy salim distrect, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt during 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. Samples of dry seeds each of two okra cultivars Balady and Sabahia were irradiated with different doses of gamma rays (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 KR) and variability in growth characteristics, earliness and pod yield were investigated in M1, M2 and M3 generations. Data were statistically analyzed for all the levels of significance. For significant F ratios New Duncan's Multiple Range (DMRT). The results of this investigation showed that the M1 plants exhibited different degrees of reduction in growth in comparison with those of the untreated control plants. In M2-generation, 26 different mutant lines were selected. Analysis of variance in M3 generation showed a highly significant difference among M3 lines and control for vegetative and agronomical traits of two okra cultivars. Among 26 M3 lines, one mutant line was produced higher pod yield (29.4 g/plant) compared with control plants (14.6 g/plant). This line will be being to evaluated for the desired traits and wide adaptability to biotic and abiotic stress to obtain new variety with high yield and good quality. Conclusively, Induced mutation is a valuable breeding tool for inducing new genetic recombination and selectsuseful lines with desired traits in okra. The present study made an extensive phenotypic evaluation from M1 to M3 generations which enabled us to select promising mutant lines with higher pods yield in M3generation. These lines could be valuable genetic resources for genetic improvement and breeding of okra in Egypt. Further selection and improvement are needed for testing mutant lines for adaptability and stability under different environments under large-scale production for releasing new improved okra cultivars.