Phenology and performance of okra (Abelmoschus spp.) morphotypes from Benin

Okra is currently a highly profitable crop for the farming community because of its high consumption potential across rural and urban areas. Thus, it is important to evaluate the yield of various morphotypes of the three species grown in Benin. Assessing the production yield will enable efficient selection of the best morphotypes for the benefit of the population. A total of 53 morphotypes, characterized from okra species cultivated in Benin, were sown in a field at the University of Abomey-Calavi. For each morphotype, 5 plants were selected, and data were collected from germination until the fruits reached total senescence. Among the three species of okra cultivated in Benin, A. moschatus has the longest vegetative phase (68 ± 3 days). The average flowering time ranges from 51 days in A. caillei to 71 days in A. moschatus. The longest average fruiting time was also observed in A. moschatus (48 days). The analysis of variance showed that the duration of fruit set varied significantly among the species (p = 0.003). In terms of production yield, A. esculentus is the most productive species, yielding 10.50 tonnes of fruit per hectare. It is followed by A. moschatus and A. caillei, which yield 5.9 tonnes and 5 tonnes of fruit per hectare, respectively. Morphotype M25 of A. esculentus is the most profitable among the 53 morphotypes of the three species, producing 520.23 grams per stem, or 20.8 tonnes of fruit per hectare. Through this study, an annual sowing calendar was developed, enabling producers to plan okra cultivation for the entire year.