THE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT STRESS ON FLOWERING AND FRUIT FORMATION OF FIVE OKRA GENOTYPES IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

The effects of drought stress on flowering time and fruit formation in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) were investigated. Two landraces and three improved genotypes of okra were exposed to two distinct drought stress conditions (moderate and severe) and a normal watering regime. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with two replicates. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated significant differences among the genotypes for some of the characters studied. The genotypes variously exhibited characteristic responses and useful traits that can be attributed to drought tolerance, including early flowering, late flowering, high chlorophyll content, and post-drought recovery. The variability in the timing of reproductive maturity as observed in this study strongly suggests earliness or delayed flowering as an efficient escape mechanisms in okra to mitigate the impact of drought on fruit production and, consequently, yield. All the varieties exhibited some ability to recover from drought damage after water was reapplied to previously stressed plants