STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF 6-BENZYLAMINOPURINE AND 1-NAPHTHALENEACETIC ACID ON THE IN VITRO REGENERATION OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS L.)

Abstract

Okra is an important vegetable crop which belongs to the family Malvaceae. Experiments were created to study the effects of varying concentrations of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) on the in vitro propagation of okra using seed explants. The seeds were cultured in vitro on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal media containing 30% sucrose, 0.9% agar and different concentrations (0.1mg/L to 0.25mg/L) of auxin (NAA) and cytokinin (BAP) singly and in combination. Early germination was obtained at 0.25mg/L BAP and 0.25mg/L NAA. Highest height was recorded at 0.15mg/L (12.8cm) followed by a combination of 0.25mg/L BAP and 0.25mg/L NAA (4.91cm). 0.15mg/L NAA followed by a combination of 0.25mg/L NAA and 0.25mg/L BAP and 0.1mg/L BAP and 0.1mg/L NAA in combination gave best vigor. Similarly, full strength media supplemented with 0.15mg/L NAA followed by 0.25mg/L BAP and 0.25mg/L NAA and 0.1mg/L BAP and 0.1mg/L NAA in combination gave the highest number of leaves. Similarly, 0.1mg/L NAA and a combination treatments of 0.1mg/L BAP and 0.1mg/L NAA with 0.25mg/L BAP and 0.25mg/L NAA gave the best percentage germination at 25%. Results of Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) indicated significant differences among the treatments compared with the control which did not respond p < 0.05. The protocol developed in this present study can be used for large scale seedling formation and biomass production of okra. It can also be used to obtain sterile and uniform materials for various in vitro studies for the improvement of okra.