Stimulating Genetic Variability on Growth And Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Using Sodium Azide

Abstract

As interest in mutant breeding grows, so does the amount of study being done on employing mutagens to induce mutations for genetic variety. As a result, breeders' only means of producing variety is through mutation breeding. An experiment was conducted to induce genetic variability using sodium azide on varieties of okra (Ablemoschus esculentus). Okra seeds were treated with different sodium azide concentrations (0mM, 2mM, 4mM, and 6mM). The research was carried out at the Department of Agronomy Federal University Dutsin-ma. The objectives of the research were to evaluate the effect of sodium azide (NaN3) on the growth and yield of okra, identify the mutagen that induces beneficial mutation with minimum lethality, select the variety of okra that produce the best mutants in terms of yield and agronomic traits. The pre-soaking of okra seed in distilled water, treatment with mutagen, seed germination test, and germination percentage were done in the laboratory. The treated and the control seeds were planted in nylon bags on the field. Each treatment was in three replications. The field layout was Completely Randomized design (CRD). The result revealed that plots treated with 2mM, 4mM, and 6mM of sodium azide recorded decreased growth, yield, and yield components with an increase in concentrations of the mutagens in okra varieties studied in comparison with untreated plots. However, treatment with 2mM and 4mM performed better than those treated with 6mM. Therefore, treatment with a low concentration of Sodium Azide is recommended for the okra varieties used in this research