Field screening of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) genotypes against okra yellow vein mosaic virus disease

Abstract

Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) is a major disease in okra which is transmitted by the vector whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). Five diverse okra genotypes namely AE 64, AE 65, AE 66, Kashi Pragati and VRO 106 were crossed in full diallel fashion. A total of twenty five cross combinations (five parents and twenty hybrids) were raised in randomized block design in two replications during the Rabi - Summer, 2015 at Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The severity of YVMV disease was recorded and the percent disease incidence (PDI) was calculated. The genotypes AE 64, AE 65 and AE 66 were found to be immune to the disease which could be exploited for further breeding programme due to their resistant disease reaction towards YVMV. Among the hybrids, the cross combinations of AE 64 x AE 65, AE 64 x AE 66, AE 65 x AE 64, AE 65 x AE 66 and AE 66 x AE 64 did not express any disease symptoms whereas the susceptible check COBhH 1 showed highly susceptible reaction.