Indian Journal of Plant Physiology

Effect of fruit load on plant responses to water stress was studied in two cultivars (Arka Anamika and Parvani Kranti) of okra (Abelmoschus esculentum L). Plants were divided into two groups before imposing the stress at reproductive stage: (i) in one group the pods were regularly harvested (depodded) and (ii) in other group the pods were not harvested (podded). Plants were subjected to water stress for five weeks. Leaf area reduction was more in podded plants of both the cultivars under water stress. Water stress resulted in significant decrease in photosynthetic rate. There was 12 to 40% reduction in photosynthesis in depodded and 16 to 52% in podded plants of Arka Anamika, while it was 2.5 to 54% in depodded and 1.0 to 66% in podded plants of Parvani Kranti. Maximum reduction in total dry matter accumulation was 51% in depodded plants of Arka Anamika, while 43% in podded plants of Parvani Kranti under the stress. Though there was recovery in physiological parameters after releasing the stress, a reduction of 47 (depodded) to 55% (podded) in biological yield was found in Arka Anamika and 10 (depodded) to 46% (podded) in Parvani Kranti in stressed plants at final harvest of crop. The results indicated that the pod influences the plant responses to water stress as indicated by the differences in leaf area production, plant height and carbon exchange characteristics in podded and depodded plants during water stress.