Multivariate Analysis for Designing Okra Crop Ideotype with Enhanced Yields and Strategy Formulation: A Crop Physiology Perspective

A crop ideotype, representing an optimal crop type with higher yield and improved quality, requires minimal input per unit of dry matter produced. This concept aims to amalgamate all yield-contributing traits into a single plant genotype. Our study induced changes in okra plants using various growth regulators, known to positively influence growth, development, and yield. Through rigorous analysis, we identified key traits correlated with yield and proposed an ideal plant phenotype characterized by reduced plant height, leaf area index, and crude fibre content, alongside increased primary branches, chlorophyll content, and fruits plant-1. This phenotype, with a slower fruit maturity rate, offers longer field-stand and shelf-life and accommodates more plants per unit area. Soil drenching with paclobutrazol at 400 ppm emerges as an effective technique to achieve this ideotype. Our findings provide valuable insights for crop breeders to develop cultivars with desired traits and offer crop physiologists strategies for optimizing plant architecture for enhanced yields. Overall, the proposed ideotype, attainable through simple farming practices, promises a rapid solution for yield maximization in okra cultivation.