Seed Priming Effects on Diverse Germplasm of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Priming of seeds resulted in increased dry matter production at vegetative stage due to continuous gain in plant height, number of branches and fruits and highest yield at reproductive stage, faster growth, and better establishment of seedlings. Seed priming is a physiological seed treatment which brings about qualitative improvement in the seed that persists even after treatment is removed and breaks dormancy. Seed vigour is a complex character governed by many factors and requires indexing of many components. Out of several methods of seed priming, hydro-priming and halo-priming are more prominent. Diverse germplasm seeds of 15 okra genotypes when halo-primed with KNO3 recorded more than 65.33 % (IC282288, IC411698) seed germination over check (30.00%). Seeds haloprimed with CaCl2 showed positive effect in faster and uniform germination in genotypes IC332232 (58.67%) and IC411698 (78.67%). Seed priming enhanced the synchronous germination and speed of germination in the genotypes IC411698 (1.67) and IC89936 (2.03). The higher ratio of polymorphic phenotypic markers might be due to quantitative nature of most phenotypic markers, such as plant height, seed weight, etc, in which more genes are responsible. Dendrogram based on phenotypic marker data successfully distinguished in all 15 okra genotypes from one another. Dissimilar values among the 15 okra genotypes ranged from 0.56 to 1.51. However, the clusters did not associate with geographic origins of okra genotypes.