Effects of sodium azide and ethyl methane sulfonate on okra seedlings Kshirsagar Ashwinikumar B.*, Dhole Mayur S., Shinde Ashok A. Department of Plant Breeding & Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biosciences & Technology, MGM University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 431003, Maharashtra State, India *Correspondence author: Email: aashwinn9@gmail.com
Online published on 12 July, 2024. Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of sodium azide (SA) and ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) on morphological traits, flowering, and fruiting characteristics of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). The morphological parameters of okra seedlings, including germination percentage, seedling length, seed vigor index, leaf area, and survival percentage, which were assessed after 30 days of growth under different mutagenic treatments. The results indicated significant decrease in germination percentage, seedling length, seed vigor index, leaf area, and survival percentage with increasing concentrations of SA and EMS. The reproductive characteristics of okra plants, such as the number of flowers, duration from sowing to flowering, duration from flowering to fruiting, number of fruits, fruit length, and fruit weight, were also influenced by mutagenic treatments. Higher concentrations of mutagens led to increased flower and fruit production but resulted in shorter, lighter fruits with fewer seeds. Conversely, lower concentrations of mutagens produced larger fruits with more seeds. Top Keywords Sodium azide (SA), Ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) Mutation Breeding and Okra. Top |