ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH AND YIELDS COMPONENTS OF THREE IMPROVED VARIETIES OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Okra has undergone various improvements in Nigeria as a result of breeding selection; however, to determine which of the assessed improved varieties are best suited for production by farmers in Ibadan, Nigeria, it is crucial to understand the type and degree of changes that exist within these varieties. Three (3) Okra varieties (NHAe47-4, LD88, and V35) were sourced from the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan and the seeds were sown in a randomized complete block design with three replications for the experiment between the month of May-August 2021 at Parry Road University of Ibadan with the coordinates 7˚46' N, 3̊ 89' E at 187 meters above sea level. The growth parameters measured include Plant height at flowering, number of flowers/plants, number of fruits/plants, number of leaves/plants, shoot dry weight at flowering, leaf dry weight at flowering, and fresh fruit weight. The result showed that LD88 produced the most pods and V35 had the largest fruit weight, NHAe47-44 flowered earliest. It is recommended that to facilitate a more robust selection of beneficial accessions for breeding programs, particularly on yield improvement, more research including a wider range of improved Okra types must be done.