Effect of shade on the germination, growth, and development of two varieties of Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench

Abstract

The effect of shade on the germination, growth, and development of Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (Okra) was investigated. This experiment was carried out using two varieties of A. esculentus seeds (Kirikoa F1 and Hire varieties) which were replicated 5 times for both under shade and under direct sunlight as growth conditions. The seeds and soil were tested for liability and physicochemical composition, respectively, before the commencement of the work. The parameters assessed following standard procedures on A. esculentus plant were number of leaves, plant height, leaf petiole length, internode, pigments and nutritional composition. The seeds germinated within 3 – 4 days after planting. Among the treatments at ninth week after planting, Kirikoa F1 variety under shade had the highest number of leaves (7.0±1.00), plant height (27.80±5.718 cm), petiole length (7.60±2.408 cm), leaf length (11.30±2.168 cm) and leaf width (10.20±1.924 cm). Also, internode (3.40±1.517 cm) was high at Kirikoa F1 under direct light. Total chlorophyll content of the varieties under light and under shade were: 1.441 mg/g and 1.254 mg/g, respectively for Kirikoa F1 and 0.549 mg/g and 0.938 mg/g, respectively for Hire. Okra under shade had high moisture content (87.36%) when compared to okra under direct sunlight (83.24%) while the reverse was the case for other nutritional composition (carbohydrate, ash content, crude lipid, crude protein and crude fibre). The study showed that Kirikoa F1 variety performed better than the Hire variety during development, and most indices of growth had higher performance under shade condition than under direct light for the okra varieties, respectively.