Morphorgenic Effect of UV-Light on Two Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. (Okra) Accessions

Background and Objective: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)is an annual vegetable crop belonging to the family Malvaceae; with several cultivated species of economic importance, such as Abelmoschus esculentus and Abelmoschus caillei. This study aimed to identify the interplay between Ultra-Violet C and the morphogenic characters of two okra accessions: Green stem accession (GSA) and red stem accession (RSA). Materials and Methods: Seed exposure to UV-C was conducted at various time intervals: 40, 80, 120 and controls, for both accessions. Data were collected on a weekly basis and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) Version 2022, while the level of significance was determined by Tukey’s HDS test at a 0.05% confidence level. Results: No significant UV-C effect on the germination of GSA and RSA seeds, including control. The UV-C did not significantly (p>0.05) affect the growth pattern of both test varieties from weeks 1-10. Microscopic examination of pollen morphology revealed bright-pale yellow, trigonal-irregular-shaped grains tapered at the end, with RSA 120 having the highest pollen size (29.1 μm). The highest leaf number was recorded at GSA80 (16.33±9.24) and RSA80 (16.87±3.84) at week 10. Petiole length was highest at GSA120 (24.67±2.60), followed by RSA120 (22.33±0.67). Capsule number and yield increased with an increase in UV-C doses from 40 to 120, with the lowest recorded among the controls. Conclusion: The UV-C irradiation at 120 min or more should be used for high-yielding okra varieties. This will promote both nutritional and nutraceutical qualities of the test crop and help in the fight against nutrient-deficiency diseases; especially in rural communities.