Fruit and Shoot Borer Resistance (Earias vittella Fab.) in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Okra,[ Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is an important warm season vegetable crop grown for its tender pods in tropical and sub tropical regions. The present research study has done with an objective to transfer shoot and fruit borer resistance to genotypes with desirable yield attributes. For this study three high yielding varieties and three resistant genotypes of okra germplasm representing four cultivated species Abelmoschus esculentus and two semi-domesticated species Abelmoschus caillei were crossed in all possible combinations and the parents and hybrids were evaluated for resistance against borer infestation. The F1 hybrid of Sel 2 x AC5 identified as the best hybrid for both high marketable fruit yield and resistance to fruit and shoot borer, and it also showed field tolerance to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus.