ABSTRACT
Okra [Abelmoschus Moench., Malvaceae] is an economically prominent vegetable crop widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical regions for the nutritional compositions of the fresh immature green fruits, fresh vegetables, buds, flowers, stems and seeds. This present study aims to assess the morphological and genetic variability within Abelmoschus accessions using ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain (RBCL) molecular markers as well as qualitative and quantitative morphological characterization using key descriptors. Seven accessions were obtained from National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Nigeria, including two A. esculentus, four A. caillei and one had the identification ‘OKRA’. These were labeled NGB 00297, NGB 00309, NGB 00308, NGB 00302, NGB 00467, NGB 00371 and NGB 00387. Using completely randomized block design, seeds of the okra accessions were planted with three replicates each. Results revealed that during the developmental stage, significant variations (at P<0.05) were observed within and between the okra accessions during germination. Field trials revealed certain degree of similarity in their leaf shapes, plant height. However, at maturity, the leaf length, plant height, leaf shape, and flowers of the seven accessions became distinct (at P<0.05). Moreover, results suggest the existence of intraspecific diversity, which clearly distinguish the accession. A cluster of the phenotypic characterization was observed at 3.74 level of coefficient of similarity with two distinct clusters. The percentage variance of the two principal components were 55.12 % and 22.69 % with a corresponding Eigen values of 4.11 and 1.69 respectively. Genetic variability was observed at 0.8 level of coefficient of similarity. Percentage variance accounted for 98.45 %. Eigenvalues of 2.62 and 0.33 were obtained. Two clusters were distinct although accession NGB 00371 showed more distinct dissimilarity among other accessions. However, the results clearly suggest that there were variations among and within the accessions.
