Identifying Drought Tolerant Genotypes in Okra with Physiological and Molecular Approaches

Okra ( L.) is an annual herbaceous plant and belongs to family Malvaceae. Abelomoschus esculentusDrought stress affects okra growth and productivity, disrupting physiological functions and the photosynthetic rate, resulting in yield losses.By understanding the physiological response of okra genotypes under drought stress conditions is critical to the selection of drought-tolerant accessions.Hence, to identify drought tolerance lines, initially selected thirty genotypes for preliminary drought screening, later advanced with six relatively promising genotypes P-8, White velvet, Arka abhay, Parbani kranti and Arka anamika and Bagalkot local were considered for further study.viz.The plants were exposed different water potential levels stresses by induced slanting glass plate technique in the laboratory.The genotypes performance was analysed at different Poly ethylene glycol-6000 osmotic stress concentrations for germination, RWC, SPAD value, and root traits up to 22 days at seedling stage revealed Arka abhay and Parbani kranti lines as relatively drought tolerant.These genotypes further exposed to water stress (65% Field capacity) with control under field evaluation.The genotypes Arka abhay and Parbani kranti were drought tolerant genotypes with higher RWC, root length, lateral roots, chlorophyll and pod yield under induced stress conditions.The genotypes were analyzed for genetic diversity with ISSR DNA molecular markers.The dendrogram revealed tolerant lines were grouped in one cluster and the rest in other clusters.Arka abhay and Parbani kranti were relatively drought tolerant and could be suitable to grow under mild water stress condition.