Effect of harvesting times on pod set, pod size and seed characteristics of four okra cultivars

Okra seed hardness results in slow and un-uniform germination. This study was conducted to determine the effects of time of harvest on pod and seed characteristics of four different cultivars of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The study was carried out at farm of Agroland Company in Greece in ۲۰۱۹ and ۲۰۲۰. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a factorial arrangement with three replications. Four different cultivars of okra contain, Boyiatiou, Veloudo, Clemsson and Pileas and six harvesting times of ۲۰-۲۵-۳۰-۳۵-۴۰ and ۵۰ days were considered in this study. Result showed that In both years in Boyiatiou, Veloudo and Pileas by increasing time of harvest from first (harvesting pods ۲۰ days after flowering) to fifth (harvesting pods ۴۰ days after flowering) time of harvest percentage of seed germinating increased and after that in sixth time of harvest (harvesting pods ۵۰ days after flowering) decreased. Most seed hardness was created in Boyiatiou variety, sixth harvesting time (harvesting pods ۵۰ days after flowering), but in this case seeds that harvested in ۲۰۱۹ sowing time produced more seed hardeness than seeds harvested in ۲۰۲۰ sowing time. The highest and lowest number of flower per plant was belong to Clemson variety, fourth harvesting times (harvesting pods ۳۵ days after flowering) with ۲۶.۳ flower per plant in ۲۰۱۹ sowing time and Boyiatiou variety, second harvesting times (harvesting pods ۲۵ days after flowering) with ۹.۶ flower per plant in ۲۰۲۰ sowing time, respectively. In general, the number of pods per plant in all varieties except Boyiatiou variety in ۲۰۲۰ sowing time was higher than ۲۰۱۹ sowing time. Study the effect of pod length affected by harvesting times showed that in both years of experiment Boyiatiou and Clemson varieties produced highest and lowest pod length than other varieties, respectively. Almost in all varieties pods from ۲۰۱۹ sowing time produced higher diameter than ۲۰۲۰ sowing time. Clemson variety in both years of experiment produced the same pod diameter. Clemson variety with average of ۱۰۱.۷ and Boyiatiou variety with ۶۷.۵ seeds per pod produced the highest and lowest number of seed per pod, respectively. In all harvesting times seeds from ۲۰۱۹ sowing time produced higher ۱۰۰ seed weight than ۲۰۲۰ sowing time.

Keywords:

Okra , Harvesting time , Germination , Pod.