Induced mutation using gamma rays in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.)

Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, popularly known as okra or bhindi, is an important vegetable crop cultivated mostly in tropical and subtropical countries. The present study aims to induce variability in this economically significant crop using gamma rays. Mature, dry and healthy seeds, irradiated with different doses of gamma rays were allowed to grow in the field along with control seeds. The effect of gamma radiations on different agronomic traits and yield contributing characters of okra, including shoot length, root length, number of secondary branches, fruits per plants, seeds per fruit and 100 seed weight were recorded for M1 and M2 generations. The observed agronomic and yield based characters in the M2 mutants at various doses of gamma rays were found to be significantly correlated. The obtained M2 mutants are useful in development of an improved variety of okra, having agronomically significant traits.