Influence of Algal Bio-fertilizers on Fruit Lignification Time Interval, DNA Concentration and Agro-Morphological Characters in Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus Moench)

Experiment was set up in May to September, 2019 to evaluate the impact of algal bio-fertilizers on fruit lignification time interval, total genomic DNA contents, growth attributes as well as the yield components of three okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) (NHAE-47-4, NHAe-54-4 and Agwu early) genotypes sourced from NIHORT, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The bio-fertilizers used for the study were a combination of cow dung + algae, poultry droppings + algae, Green Compost + algae and only soil as control. The test crops were sown into 50 x 30 x 25 cm3 perforated plastic buckets containing 5 kg of sterilized sandy loam soil and applied with the bio-fertilizers at 500 g each. The bio-fertilizers were prepared by using a combination of algae and organic manures. The experiment was a 3 x 4 experiment set up in completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replications. Factor one was the Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) genotypes with three levels (NHAe-47-4; NHAe-54-4 and Agwu early) while factor two was the different bio-fertilizers used with four levels (Cow dung + Algae; Polutry droopings + Algae; Green compost manure + Algae and soil as control). This gave a total treatment combination of 12 which was replicated thrice to give a total of 36 experimental units. Data for yield components were collected at maturity for days to flower initiation, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plants and fresh fruit weight. Data generated from the study were collated and subjected to statistical analysis using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures and significant treatment means were further separated using the Fishers’ least significance difference test at 5 percent probability level. The results shows that genomic DNA contents varies from 134.100 ng/µl in Agwu early in control plot to 175.600 ng/µl in NHAe -54-4 treated with Poultry droppings +Algae. Fruit lignification time interval was significantly (p <0.05) influenced by the bio-fertilizers and varied between 3 days 6 minutes in Agwu early in the control plots to 8 days and 23 hours in NHAe 47-4 treated with Poultry dropping + Alage. Plant height varied (p <0.05) significantly and ranged from 14.13 cm in Agwu early in control plot to 44.34 cm in NHAe-47-4 treated with Poultry droppings + Algae while number of fruits per plant also varied (p <0.05) significantly and ranged between 12.57 fruits per plant in Agwu early in control plots to 24.30 fruits per plant in NHAe-47-4 treated with Poultry droppings + Algae. Hence, the study advocated for the use of poultry droppings + Algal bio-fertilizer in prolonging the fruit lignification time in okra for planned harvesting, increased income and mechanization of okra harvesting.