ABSTRACT

This research project on agronomic breeding was conducted at the Eastern Research Farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The objective of this research was to establish the doses of formaldehyde which can effectively induce morphological changes in Okra plant and to select mutants with desirable characters for production in Umudike environment. Okra seeds (Abelmoschus esculentus L.Moench) were soaked in 30%,60% and generations. The agronomic response of okra to different doses of formaldehyde was ascertained based on the following parameters: Plant height, total number of leaves per plant, total number of pods per plant, pod size, number of seed pods, leaf area, chlorophyll content, germination and survival percentages. There was no significant effect on plant height, leaf area and number of seeds produced per pod. However, at 60% concentration, the germination percentage was significantly reduced. While a significant increase in sizes of pods, number of pods per plant, number of leaves and varying concentrations of formaldehyde (0%, 90%) to raise the Mo and Mi leaf area, chlorophyll content and survival percentage were recorded. Therefore, it is recommended that 60% concentration of formaldehyde can effectively induce useful changes in terms of increased number of pods and pods sizes, greater number of leaves with greater leaf area, high chlorophyll content and high survival percentage in okra plant.