Phenotypic variations among okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) genetic resources in Sudan

Abstract

A total of 366 accessions of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) obtained from the Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Centre (APGRC) in Sudan were characterized for a number of morphological characters using a descriptor list derived from the list published by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources in 1984. Those accessions, which were collected from different regions of Sudan, were grown in the APGRC research farm in Wad Medani town in central Sudan during ten different seasons within the period between 2000 and 2019. Phenotypic variations were observed among and within the different accessions for plant, stem, leaf, inflorescence and fruit characters. Up to 59% of accessions were found to be heterogeneous for different traits. The descriptor states observed ranged from very rare in 5%or less of the accessions, to abundant in more than 90% of the accessions. Substantial phenotypic variation was observed for okra fresh fruits, the main organs used for food, in terms of shape, colour, pubescence and number of ridges. Accessions carrying fruits preferred in local or foreign markets were identified making them good candidates for further breeding to produce new cultivars for both markets. The cluster analysis resulted in 13 subclusters at a similarity level of 60%. When comparing the subclusters with collection sites, no direct relation was detected indicating that okra germplasm has been spreading all over the country resulting in diversified materials across different regions.