Studies on Inheritance of Geneic Male Sterility (GMS) and Hybrid Seed Production in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.]

Inheritance of geneic male sterility in GMS line MS-1 of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] was studied using F₁, F₂ and test-cross generations of crosses between GMS line MS-1 and normal fertile genotypes, and the varieties Arka Anamika, Parbhani Kranti, Arka Abhay, IIHR-108-1-31, IIHR-109-20-6, IIHR-116-23-6, IIHR- 180-6-3, IIHR-161-10-1 and IIHR-130-2-10. All the F₁ were found fertile. Segregation of pollen fertility in F₂ and test - cross generations involving ms1 was segregated in the ratio 1 fertile: 1 sterile, respectively. This indicated that GMS trait in the line is controlled by a single recessive gene (ms1ms1). Large-scale F₁ hybrid seed production in okra becomes rather slow due to the tedious hand-emasculation, followed by hand-pollination, incurring additional labour and cost of F₁ seed production. In comparison to fertile lines, this saves approximately 70% time and manual labour. Use of Geneic Male Sterile (GMS) line MS-1 can make F₁ hybrid seed production in okra easy and more economical compared to hand-emasculation.